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The Special Adviser to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Economic Affairs, Tope Fasua, has justified the government’s spending on the presidential airfleet.
Comparisons have been drawn between critical sectors such as health, education, and defence, and expenditures like government officials’ international travel. Over the years, good governance advocates have accused the government of extravagant spending while neglecting these essential sectors.
A Daily Trust report revealed that only about 7% of the Nigerian Army’s security equipment budget was released in 2025. Out of the N20.56 billion budgeted by the Nigerian Army for the purchase of security equipment, only N1.46bn, representing 7.11%, was disbursed as of December 31, 2025.
Fasua, while speaking with Channels, said comparing the defence ministry’s funding with the air fleet is like comparing “apples and oranges”.
“However, in mentioning spending for the Ministry of Defence versus the presidential air fleet. What you have done is compare apples and oranges. The spending on the presidential air fleet is recurrent spending. Whereas you mentioned that the Nigerian Army couldn’t buy equipment, not more than 7% was spent,” said Fasua.
“Now the thing with the equipment of the capital equipment for the army that you mentioned is a capital spending. It was 2024 capital that was spent now.”
Fasua explained that there was an overlap in 2023: two different budget cycles, one from the administration of late President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, since Buhari’s budget cycle extended into 2023, it didn’t end neatly before the new government’s policies started. There was also a budget overlap in 2025, when three budgets ran concurrently.
“And nobody has said that the defence sector has not been funded. I’m just saying that there was a rollover that in 2024. In 2025, 2024 capital was spent for the defence sector, the health sector, and other sectors,” he added.
“And now, this year, the 2025 capital budget would be prioritised for those ministries before 2026 kicks in. But 2026 recurrent is already ongoing.”
