Doyin Okupe, former presidential spokesman, says the allocation of N4.91 trillion to defence and security in the 2025 budget by President Bola Tinubu’s administration underscores the seriousness and political will to end insurgency and other security challenges.

Mr Okupe, a former director-general of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Organisation in the 2023 general election, said this in an interview on Friday in Lagos.

The president had on Wednesday presented the N47.91 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill, christened ‘Budget of Restoration, Securing Peace and Rebuilding Prosperity’, to a joint session of the National Assembly.

The president listed highlights of the 2025 budget allocations, including defence and security: N4.91 trillion; infrastructure: N4.06 trillion; health: N2.48 trillion; and education: N3.52 trillion.

Mr Okupe described the N47.91 trillion budget for 2025 as big and ambitious. He said it addressed “key sectoral aspects of our national life.” Mr Okupe noted that the assumptions on which the huge estimates were based were both realisable and achievable.

“The oil daily production of slightly more than N2 million barrels, the forex benchmark of N1,500 to the dollar and the projected crude oil price of $75 are all vividly realistic figures going on by the current and predictably prevailing global trend.

“The huge allocation of N4.91 trillion (10 per cent) to defence and security underscores the seriousness and political will of the administration to finally decimate insurgency and banditry.

“These two plagues are major contributors to food shortage, availability and inflation as they prevent farming activities in the north,” Mr Okupe said.

According to him, the significantly increased allocation of funds to social welfare shows the government’s concern and intention to attend to the needs of the vulnerable in society.

He also applauded the president for prioritising education and healthcare, which, he said, would further improve the nation’s human development index.

“All in all, the huge size of the budget is also indicative of the government’s intention to increase its spending, thereby providing the necessary impetus for economic growth and an increase in the purchasing power of the citizens.

“The 2025 budget further strengthens the workability of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.

Recall that the president said the budget demonstrated the government’s commitment to stabilising the economy, improving lives and repositioning the country for greater performance.

He also said the budget sought to consolidate the key policies instituted to restructure the economy, boost human capital development, increase the volume of trade and investments and bolster oil and gas production.

(NAN)