Edo spends N14.5bn on security, neglects ministry funding

The Edo State Government spent N14.48 billion on security votes and related services in the first nine months of 2026. However, the government did not release any capital funds to its Ministry of Public Security and Safety. This ministry is in charge of coordinating security and safety operations across the state.

These details are from the state’s third-quarter 2026 Budget Performance Report. This raises questions about how the government prioritizes funding at a time when Edo is facing serious security issues like kidnapping, cultism, armed attacks, and other violent crimes.

According to the report, the government spent N11.31 billion on security votes, which include operational costs, between January and September. This amount is 66.1 percent of the N17.11 billion budgeted for that purpose.

Additionally, N3.17 billion was spent on security services from a separate budget of N4.05 billion, which is 78.3 percent of that allocation. Together, these expenses total N14.48 billion within the nine months.

Despite these large amounts spent, the Ministry of Public Security and Safety received no capital funding during this period. N250 million was set aside for capital projects in the 2026 budget, but none of it was released.

The ministry also received just 24.8 percent of its N650 million overhead allocation. This means most of the funds were not released by the end of September. The ministry’s Facebook page states that it is responsible for protecting lives, securing property, and coordinating safety operations across the state.

Some key projects that lacked funding included the purchase of body cameras, fire suits, breathing apparatus, and security equipment for the Edo State Security Corps and Command. Other planned projects included creating a safety and security information database and a mobile validation system.

Without capital funding, the ministry could not carry out these planned projects during the nine-month period, according to the budget performance report. This situation is concerning because the ministry’s duties go beyond just ordinary security work. They also include public safety infrastructure, emergency response equipment, and managing security information.

Security concerns in Edo

Edo has ongoing security problems. Kidnapping, attacks on communities, and criminal activities on major roads are major worries for residents and public officials. These issues have caught national attention, especially after violent incidents involving travelers, residents, and communities.

The security situation has been highlighted in several reports. In January 2026, PREMIUM TIMES reported that residents of Ekpoma and nearby areas protested against rising kidnappings, which disrupted economic activities. They blocked a federal highway, stopping vehicles from passing.

The European Union Agency for Asylum, in its January 2026 report on Nigeria’s security situation, mentioned kidnapping for ransom, cult-related killings, communal violence, and attacks by armed groups as security challenges in Edo. The agency pointed to data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, which recorded 237 security incidents and 212 deaths in Edo from January 2024 to August 2025.

These concerns continued in 2026. In August, police rescued four people who were kidnapped along the Lagos-Benin Expressway. Armed men had reportedly blocked the Ugbokun axis with logs and leaves before attacking motorists.

In September, police announced they arrested 13 suspected kidnappers and saved nine victims across the state during August. The Edo State Government has also recognized the security challenges. In June, the Commissioner for Public Safety and Security, Festus Ebea, said the government was deploying forest guards and members of the Edo State Security Corps to improve security in all 18 local government areas.

The latest budget figures raise a big question about how the government’s huge spending on security relates to the funding for the ministry responsible for public safety.