society
Nigeria’s Misplaced Priorities: Why Deploying Troops to Benin Republic Instead of the North Underscores a Dangerous Security Blindspot
Nigeria’s Misplaced Priorities: Why Deploying Troops to Benin Republic Instead of the North Underscores a Dangerous Security Blindspot
By Ifeanyi Obinali
As the dust settles from last weekend’s failed coup in Benin Republic, and the Nigerian Senate’s recent approval of troops deployment to assist the Beninese government, many Nigerians are asking: Was this really the right call — especially given the worsening security disaster back home?
On December 7, 2025, the government of Benin requested military intervention after mutinying soldiers attempted to overthrow their president. Responding swiftly, President Bola Tinubu ordered the mobilization of Nigerian fighter jets and ground troops to help restore constitutional order in the neighboring country. Reports say the intervention succeeded: airstrikes and ground forces helped quash the coup attempt. This indeed is a bold gesture to a neighbor, but at what domestic cost?
In the eyes of many observers including Nigeria’s leaders, this demonstrates solidarity with a neighbor and reaffirms Nigeria’s role as a stabilizer in the region. President Tinubu framed the move as an affirmation of shared democratic values under ECOWAS. But for many Nigerians who face daily threats from kidnappings, banditry and village massacres, the spectacle of foreign intervention feels dangerously disconnected from the urgent reality of life in the country, especially Nigeria’s north.
The northern crisis is now more than a security challenge but a humanitarian disaster. Over the last decade, large parts of northern Nigeria especially the northwest and north-central zones have been ravaged by violence: kidnappings, bandit raids, mass abductions of schoolchildren, attacks on villages and farms, and deadly raids on houses of worship.
Today, killings, kidnappings, and violent raids by so-called bandit gangs” are everyday realities of citizens in Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina and Niger. It is a shame and sad to note that 15 years after Chibok, we are still dealing with the same challenges that led to school students in Kebbi and Niger facing the same inhumane situation that they will never recover from. The worst part remains that the posture of the government still does not prove its readiness to deal with this issue decisively. How can someone order the removal of military officers and security men protecting the school in Kebbi mere hours before the bandits attacked, killed the principal and kidnapped the students, yet Nigerians still do not officially know the name of that specific individual who gave the order of removal, and worst still that person is not in custody yet – a stark manifestation of how entrenched in the system the insecurity has become, especially because it’s unusual for military movements to occur without clear authorization, especially in high-risk areas.
These attacks do more than just endanger lives: they destroy communities, displace families, force farmers off their land, and worsen poverty and hunger, a reality already highlighted in recent food-insecurity projections.
As with every sovereign nation, the government’s number one responsibility is to ensure security and the protection of the lives of every citizen. When the government commits troops abroad, especially in a reactive operation, it sends a message about what it sees as its priorities. Deploying personnel to Benin may shore up regional influence, but it comes at a cost: the very real and growing insecurity at home and the millions of naira that could have been invested in the fight against insecurity.
Given the scale of terror, banditry, and kidnapping in the north, diverting troops and military assets to another country is a miscalculation. Just the way our troops were guns-blazing to Cotonou, they could have done the same in response to the insecurity in the north, at a time when many citizens believed they most needed protection.
What message does this send to a family in, say, Katsina or Zamfara, whose village was raided last week, whose children were snatched, whose farm is burning when military jets are flying to foreign capitals instead of guarding their schools or farmland?
Beyond optics, our government’s focus should be internal, because the human cost of insecurity in the country is huge and rapidly rising. The numbers of attacks, abductions, and killings in the north have soared over the last decade. For thousands of families, insecurity is no longer abstract, but a daily terror. Citizens expect their government to guard their safety, safeguard their children’s education, and protect their land. When security appears selectively deployed abroad while domestic threats rage, public trust erodes.
There is no doubt that regional instability threatens all West African nations, and that solidarity among neighbors is sometimes necessary. But for a country still grappling with rampant kidnappings, banditry, and deadly attacks across its own territory inside which lives, livelihoods, and futures hang in the balance, stability at home must come first.
Nigerians cannot continue to remain vulnerable, their lands insecure, and their families unprotected, while foreign capitals enjoy the protection of Nigerian jets and troops. The government must before any foreign adventures, deploy the full force of its security apparatus to where it is most needed: at home in the Northeast, Northwest and North Central in particular, and Nigeria in general.
Ramadan: Adron Homes Felicitates Muslims, Preaches Hope and Unity
Adron Homes & Properties Limited has congratulated Muslim faithful on the commencement of the holy month of Ramadan, urging Nigerians to embrace the virtues of sacrifice, discipline, and compassion that define the season.
In a statement made available to journalists, the company described Ramadan as a period of deep reflection, spiritual renewal, and strengthened devotion to faith and humanity.
According to the management, the holy month represents values that align with the organisation’s commitment to integrity, resilience, and community development.
“Ramadan is a time that teaches patience, generosity, and selflessness. As our Muslim customers and partners begin the fast, we pray that their sacrifices are accepted and that the season brings peace, joy, and renewed hope to their homes and the nation at large,” the statement read.
The firm reaffirmed its dedication to providing affordable and accessible housing solutions to Nigerians, noting that building homes goes beyond structures to creating environments where families can thrive.
Adron Homes further urged citizens to use the period to pray for national unity, economic stability, and sustainable growth.
It wished all Muslim faithful a spiritually fulfilling Ramadan.
Ramadan Mubarak.
society
Underfunding National Security: Envelope Budgeting Fails Nigeria’s Defence By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Underfunding National Security: Envelope Budgeting Fails Nigeria’s Defence
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by saharaweeklyng.com
“Fiscal Rigidity in a Time of Crisis: Lawmakers Say Fixed Budget Ceilings Are Crippling Nigeria’s Fight Against Insurgency, Banditry, and Organized Crime.”
Nigeria’s legislature has issued a stark warning: the envelope budgeting system; a fiscal model that caps spending for ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) is inadequate to meet the country’s escalating security challenges. Lawmakers and budget analysts argue that rigid fiscal ceilings are undermining the nation’s ability to confront insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, separatist violence, oil theft and maritime insecurity.
The warning emerged during the 2026 budget defence session for the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) at the National Assembly in Abuja. Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC‑Kebbi North), chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, decried the envelope system, noting that security agencies “have been subject to the vagaries of the envelope system rather than to genuine needs and requirements.” The committee highlighted non-release or partial release of capital funds from previous budgets, which has hindered procurement, intelligence and operational capacity.
Nigeria faces a multi‑front security crisis: persistent insurgency in the North‑East, banditry and kidnappings across the North‑West and North‑Central, separatist tensions in the South‑East, and piracy affecting Niger Delta oil production. Despite declarations of a national security emergency by President Bola Tinubu, lawmakers point to a “disconnect” between rhetoric and the actual fiscal support for agencies tasked with enforcement.
Experts warn that security operations demand flexibility and rapid resource allocation. Dr. Amina Bello, a public finance specialist, said: “A static budget in a dynamic threat environment is like sending firefighters with water jugs to a forest fire. You need flexibility, not fixed ceilings, to adapt to unforeseen developments.”
The Permanent Secretary of Special Services at ONSA, Mohammed Sanusi, detailed operational consequences: irregular overhead releases, unfulfilled capital appropriations, and constrained foreign service funds. These fiscal constraints have weakened intelligence and covert units, hampering surveillance, cyber‑security, counter‑terrorism and intelligence sharing.
Delayed capital releases have stalled critical projects, including infrastructure upgrades and surveillance systems. Professor Kolawole Adeyemi, a governance expert, emphasized that “budgeting for security must allow for rapid reallocation in response to threats that move faster than political cycles. Envelope budgeting lacks this essential flexibility.”
While the National Assembly advocates fiscal discipline, lawmakers stress that security funding requires strategic responsiveness. Speaker Abbas Ibrahim underscored that security deserves “prominent and sustained attention” in the 2026 budget, balancing oversight with operational needs.
In response, the Senate committee plans to pursue reforms, including collaboration with the executive to restructure funding, explore supplementary budgets and ensure predictable and sufficient resources for security agencies. Experts warn that without reform, criminal networks will exploit these gaps, eroding public trust.
As one policy analyst summarized: “A nation declares a security emergency; but if its budget does not follow with real resources and oversight, the emergency remains rhetorical.” Nigeria’s debate over envelope budgeting is more than an accounting dispute; it is a contest over the nation’s security priorities and its commitment to safeguarding citizens.
Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin) Celebrates as She Marks Her Birthday
Today, the world and the body of Christ rise in celebration of a rare vessel of honour, Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba, fondly known as Eritosin, as she marks her birthday.
Born a special child with a divine mark of grace, Rev. Mother Eritosin’s journey in God’s vineyard spans several decades of steadfast service, spiritual depth, and undeniable impact. Those who know her closely describe her as a prophetess with a heart of gold — a woman whose calling is not worn as a title, but lived daily through compassion, discipline, humility, and unwavering faith.
From her early days in ministry, she has touched lives across communities, offering spiritual guidance, prophetic insight, and motherly counsel. Many testify that through her prayers and teachings, they encountered God in a deeply personal and transformative way. Near and far, her influence continues to echo — not only within church walls, but in homes, families, and destinies reshaped through her mentorship.
A mother in every sense of the word, Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba embodies nurture and correction in equal measure. As a grandmother, she remains energetic in purpose — accommodating the wayward, embracing the rejected, and holding firmly to the belief that no soul is beyond redemption. Her life’s mission has remained consistent: to lead many to Christ and guide them into the light of a new beginning.
Deeply rooted within the C&S Unification, she stands tall as a spiritual pillar in the Cherubim and Seraphim Church globally. Her dedication to holiness, unity, and prophetic service has earned her widespread respect as a spiritual matriarch whose voice carries both authority and humility.
As she celebrates another year today, tributes continue to pour in from spiritual sons and daughters, church leaders, and admirers who see in her a living reflection of grace in action.
Prayer for Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin)
May the Almighty God, who called you from birth and anointed you for His service, continually strengthen you with divine health and renewed vigour.
May your oil never run dry, and may your prophetic mantle grow heavier with greater glory.
May the lives you have nurtured rise to call you blessed.
May your latter years be greater than the former, filled with peace, honour, and the visible rewards of your labour in God’s vineyard.
May heaven continually back your prayers, and may your light shine brighter across nations.
Happy Birthday to a true Mother in Israel — Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin).
More years.
More anointing.
More impact.
If you want this adapted for a newspaper page, church bulletin, Facebook post, or birthday flyer, just tell me the format and tone.
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