By Kayode Araba
Thus, the Joint Committee on AIRFORCE has rejected the proposed budget of the Nigerian Air Force, citing its inadequacy to effectively sustain the level of firepower required to combat insurgency across the country at this critical time.
However, the Committee noted that the proposed allocation is insufficient to meet the operational demands of the Air Force, particularly in light of ongoing security challenges. As a result, the Committee resolved to constitute a mini-committee tasked with engaging the Federal Government, the Budget Office, and relevant legislative committees to work out a more realistic and sustainable budget framework.
Speaking with the media, the House Committee Chairman, Hon Kabir Alhassan stated that the revised budget proposal, when concluded, will be presented to the Joint Committee for consideration and approval, with the aim of strengthening the capacity of the Nigerian Air Force to effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities.
Moreso, in clarifying concerns surrounding the 2025 budget cycle, the House Committee Chairman explained that while a percentage of the capital components has been deferred to 2026 due to fiscal constraints, the funding level remains inadequate.
Hon Kabir emphasized that any funding eventually provided—particularly in 2026—must be sufficient to fully support the operational and strategic needs of the Air Force.
Therefore, the committee called on the Federal Government to provide maximum cooperation in this process, stressing that Nigerians urgently require decisive and adequately funded action to address the nation’s security challenges.
