Makinde asks Tinubu about budget for army growth in 2026

Seyi Makinde, the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), has raised concerns about the federal government's plans to expand Army divisions. He has asked President Bola Tinubu to reveal the budget allocation for this expansion in the 2026 budget.

Mr Makinde, who is also the governor of Oyo State, stated that announcing the growth of military units without proper funding or planning would not solve the ongoing insecurity issues, especially in the North-central region.

He made these comments on Monday during the APM North-central Town Hall Meeting in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State. He also criticized the federal government’s economic policies and shared parts of his party’s agenda for the upcoming 2027 presidential election.

“I was looking at the budget for 2026. I was looking for the item in that budget relating to the expansion of those Army divisions. I did not see it.

“If they have it in the budget that they prepared for 2026, let them bring it out. So, you cannot just wake up and say, well, without any plan, I am setting up or expanding Army divisions to tackle insecurity. There has to be a lot of planning that will go into this,” he said.

The federal government recently suggested creating and expanding military formations as part of its strategy to address Nigeria’s security problems, especially in areas hit by terrorism, banditry, and other criminal activities.

Mr Makinde emphasized that dealing with insecurity needs a solid funding structure, strategic planning, and discussions with affected communities. He believes that mere policy announcements will not be enough.

He compared this with how the budget process works in Oyo State. He mentioned that his administration has started talking to residents in different parts of the state as they prepare for the 2027 budget.

According to him, these consultations aim to help the government understand the needs and priorities of the people before finalizing its spending plans.