In a Freedom of Information request dated June 28, 2025, SERAP said the public has a right to know how billions of naira allocated for security are being used, especially with rising insecurity across the country.
“In the wake of the Benue massacre and well-documented ongoing cases of insecurity in several states, there is a legitimate public interest for governors to account for how they spend security votes,” the group said.
The request, signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, also called on governors to allow Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies, the EFCC and ICPC, to investigate and monitor how the funds were disbursed.
Despite large annual budgets under the label of ‘security votes,’ SERAP said many governors have “grossly failed” to improve safety in their states. “This is contrary to section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution,” the group added.
