Nigeria’s import bill for arms and ammunition surged in the first half of 2025, as the country spent N26.95 billion on foreign weapons compared to N11.76 billion in the same period of 2024.
This represents a 129% increase year-on-year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) foreign trade report. The rise reverses the slump seen in 2024 and signals renewed military procurement, even as Nigeria battles multiple security challenges.
The 2025 rebound is significant because it follows one of the weakest years on record. In H1 2024, imports fell to just N11.76 billion from a record N121.36 billion in H1 2023, representing a 90% collapse. By contrast, the N26.95 billion spent in H1 2025 suggests the resumption of procurement contracts to boost defence.
H1 2023 remains the historic peak, with arms imports hitting N121.36 billion in six months, largely tied to counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.
The 2025 spending was heavily concentrated in the first quarter. Imports in Q1 2025 amounted to N22.08 billion, more than double the N10.72 billion recorded in Q1 2024. In Q2 2025, spending slowed sharply to N4.87 billion, though this was still almost five times higher than the N1.04 billion spent in Q2 2024. This means more than 80% of the half-year imports occurred in the first three months of 2025.
The renewed growth in military imports coincides with persistent insecurity across Nigeria. From Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgency in the North-East to banditry in the North-West, armed conflicts in the South-East, and kidnappings in the North-Central, the government remains under pressure to strengthen security forces.
Nonetheless, the trend from 2021 to 2025 shows extreme volatility in Nigeria’s defence imports. Spending swung from N39.80 billion in H1 2021 to N15.81 billion in H1 2022, spiked to N121.36 billion in H1 2023, collapsed to N11.76 billion in H1 2024, and has now rebounded to N26.95 billion in H1 2025. This indicates that procurement is driven more by contract cycles, budget releases, and shifting priorities than by steady growth.
The fiscal implications are considerable. Defence imports contribute to Nigeria’s trade imbalance and strain foreign reserves. With debt servicing already consuming a large share of revenue, rising arms imports may further tighten fiscal space.
However, Nigeria recorded an upswing in its external trade position in Q2 2025, as the country’s trade surplus widened by 44.3% to N7.46 trillion, up from N5.17 trillion in the previous quarter.
