Description: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced radical reformation of Nigeria’s defense forces in the midst of a sprawling security crisis in the country. Tinubu’s office stated that the government planned on reforming its police and military forces by adding EUR 3 billion to the defense budget that would be spent on new equipment, recruitment purposes and technological development. Nigeria is currently facing a multi – vectored security crisis, stemming from the expanded presence of groups such as ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) and Boko Haram. Regional violence over agricultural land between Christian farmers and Muslim herders also intensified within the last year, while so – called bandits in collusion with the bigger terrorist and militant groups regularly conduct kidnappings and attacks on military outposts. Most recently, the Nigerian military faced off with Boko Haram terrorists in the Niger and Kwara states where 308 civilians were rescued in a gun battle that lasted for hours. More than 200 terrorists were eliminated by Nigeria’s security forces in the operation.
Impact: Nigeria’s expansion of the defense budget although significant would unlikely terminally resolve the country’s security issues. Terrorists, separatists, militants and land disputes between herders and farmers stem from the country’s systemic failures to address issues such as widespread corruption, economic development of its central and northern regions and ethnic tensions. The increase of the defense budget is likely to prop up the Nigerian military and expand its tactical approach towards addressing the security issues. Groups such as ISWAP and Boko Haram have readapted towards asymmetrical warfare throughout the years and have preestablished regional administrations across territories they predominantly control. This control is likely to persist in the short to mid – term period unless Nigeria undertakes a severe approach towards addressing its systemic issues that are the primary reason for the decadence of the security situation in the country.