The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Olufemi Oluyede, at the House Representatives Committee on 2026 Budget Defence, complained of manpower and operational limitations. The CDS, invariably, called for the strengthening of the Nigerian Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to complement the Nigerian Armed Forces in security operations.
General Oluyede disclosed that newly trained special forces have been deployed to Benue and Plateau states, while a new joint task force, Operation Savannah Shield, will be inaugurated to cover Kwara State and parts of Niger State.
He added that Nigeria is partnering with allied countries to improve intelligence gathering, while ensuring that such cooperation does not compromise national sovereignty.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson, said the budget defence session was aimed at ensuring accountability and better security outcomes. He noted that defence spending must be matched with measurable results.
The session later moved into a closed-door meeting, after which the Minister of Defence, Musa Christopher, appeared before the committee, but was asked to take a bow after lawmakers reviewed the ministry’s budget and the level of implementation in 2025
