Nigeria sharply increased its military expenditure in 2025, raising spending by 55 per cent to $2.1bn, according to the latest Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Military Expenditure Fact Sheet published in April 2026.
- +Nigeria’s defence spending jumps 55% to $2.1bn — Report
The rise places Nigeria among the fastest-growing defence spenders in sub-Saharan Africa and reflects intensifying security pressures, including persistent insurgency activity, extremist violence, and broader instability across parts of the country.
The rise places Nigeria among the fastest-growing defence spenders in sub-Saharan Africa and reflects intensifying security pressures, including persistent insurgency activity, extremist violence, and broader instability across parts of the country.
The 12-page report shows Nigeria is now the second-largest military spender in sub-Saharan Africa, behind South Africa, which allocated about $3.2bn in 2025.
While South Africa’s spending declined slightly over the period, Nigeria’s sharp increase signals a widening divergence in regional security responses, with West Africa increasingly driving defence expenditure growth.
Across sub-Saharan Africa as a whole, military spending rose to $23.3bn in 2025, up 7.4 per cent year on year and 21 per cent higher than in 2016.
Nigeria accounted for a significant share of this increase, underscoring its role as a key driver of regional security spending trends.
“Military expenditure in sub-Saharan Africa totalled $23.3bn in 2025, up by 7.4 per cent compared with 2024 and 21 per cent more than in 2016. The year-on-year increase was largely driven by higher spending in Nigeria, the second-largest spender in the subregion.
“Nigeria’s military expenditure rose by 55 per cent to $2.1 billion in 2025 against the backdrop of the worsening security situation in the country linked to insurgencies and extremist violence.
“South Africa, the largest military spender in sub-Saharan Africa, allocated $3.2bn to the military in 2025, a 1.2 per cent decrease from 2024 and 19 per cent lower than in 2016,” part of the report stated.
Nigeria’s increase comes amid continued government efforts to respond to multiple security challenges simultaneously, ranging from insurgent groups in the North-East to banditry and armed criminal networks in other regions.
Although SIPRI does not provide a breakdown of operational allocations, it notes that Nigeria’s spending growth aligns with worsening security conditions.
The 55 per cent jump also places Nigeria among the most rapidly expanding military budgets globally in percentage terms, even though its absolute spending remains modest compared with larger global powers.
By comparison, global military expenditure reached a record $2.887tn in 2025, with growth led by Europe and continued expansion in Asia and Oceania, despite a decline in US spending.
Nigeria’s increase is particularly notable within the context of Africa, where only a handful of countries recorded significant double-digit growth.
It contrasts with South Africa, the region’s largest economy, which has seen sustained budget pressures and a gradual decline in real military expenditure over the decade.
SIPRI’s report highlights that Africa’s military burden remains relatively low compared with other regions, averaging 1.8 per cent of GDP, but rising security pressures are beginning to shift spending patterns in several countries, including Nigeria, Algeria, and Egypt.
