The Imo State Government under Governor Hope Uzodimma spent N2.19 billion on security-related services in the first half of 2026, even as the state recorded a 14.4 per cent overall budget performance following a significant revenue shortfall.
The expenditure comprised N877.5 million spent under security votes, including operations (57.5 per cent of the N1.53 billion provision), and N1.31 billion spent on security services (37.3 per cent of the N3.51 billion budgeted for the item).
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The figures are in the Imo State 2026 Second Quarter Budget Performance Report, which PREMIUM TIMES reviewed.
The spending comes on the heels of a series of security incidents across the state between January and June, including killings, attempted abductions, attacks on government facilities and the kidnapping of eight officials of Scripture Union.
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PREMIUM TIMES reported that gunmen killed the traditional ruler of Ochia Autonomous Community in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo, Paulinus Ekwueme, and five others in April. Police said the victims’ bodies were set ablaze after the attack.
In May, suspected cultists killed two people in Nekede, Owerri West Local Government Area, prompting a police manhunt.
The same month, suspected armed herders reportedly attacked the Eziobodo community in Owerri West, killing one person and abducting an unspecified number of people. The incident prompted increased security deployment in the area.
PREMIUM TIMES reported in June that gunmen attacked the Abacheke community in Ohaji/Egbema, killing at least five people, including two security operatives. The gunmen also set six houses ablaze.
Also in June, PREMIUM TIMES reported that eight national officers of Scripture Union were abducted along the Orlu-Mgbidi Road while returning from a conference in Okigwe.
The security challenges were not limited to attacks on residents.
In March, police said they foiled an attack on the state-owned Adapalm facility in Ohaji/Egbema, where armed men allegedly set heavy machinery and equipment ablaze. One suspected attacker was killed during a gun battle with security operatives.
The Nigerian Army also reported security operations in Imo during the first quarter under Operation UDO KA, stating that troops arrested 91 suspects and rescued 14 kidnap victims across the South-east, including Imo.
In February, Amnesty International introduced another dimension of the state’s insecurity challenge, accusing the police anti-kidnapping unit, known as Tiger Base, in Owerri of torture, arbitrary detention, extortion and enforced disappearances. The allegations were contained in an investigation published by the rights organisation.
Revenue shortfall
Despite the security spending, Imo’s overall financial performance remained low during the period.
According to the budget performance report, Imo generated N312.49 billion between January and June this year against the N1.47 trillion revenue projection for the 2026 fiscal year.
Of the amount, N156.82 billion came from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, while N20 billion was generated internally.
The state also recorded N120 billion as an opening balance from 2025, N2.4 billion in aids and grants, and N13.2 billion in loans.
The N312.49 billion revenue represents 21.3 per cent of the state’s annual revenue projection.
The state spent N212.10 billion during the six months, representing 14.4 per cent of its N1.47 trillion annual budget.
Governor Uzodimma’s administration spent N44.58 billion on recurrent expenditure and N167.52 billion on capital expenditure.
The figures show that while capital spending accounted for the bulk of expenditure during the quarter, releases were heavily concentrated in a few areas, with several ministries recording no capital releases despite substantial budget provisions.
N60bn education budget, N52.6bn health budget, record low releases
The Ministry of Education had a capital budget of N60.63 billion but received only N3.39 billion during the quarter, representing 5.6 per cent performance.
Similarly, the Ministry of Health received N2.58 billion out of its N52.66 billion capital provision, representing only 4.9 per cent of its capital provision.
The poor release rate extended to several other critical sectors.
The Ministry of Environment and Sanitation had an N10 billion capital budget but recorded no capital release.
The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs had N1 billion budgeted for capital expenditure, but received nothing. The same goes for the Ministry of Sports, which had a capital provision of N1.31 billion but recorded zero release.
The Ministry of Local Government, Community and Chieftaincy Affairs had N15.2 billion earmarked for capital projects but received no capital funding.
Other institutions and ministries with zero capital releases included the Ministry of Women Affairs and Vulnerable Groups (N875 million budgeted); Ministry of Youth Development and Talent Hunt (N1.15 billion); Ministry of Niger Delta (N2.6 billion); Ministry of Entrepreneurship, Skill Acquisition and Social Responsibilities (N6.47 billion); Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning (N830 million); and Ministry of Water Resources, which had the largest allocation among them at N46.68 billion.
The Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Statistics, with a N420 million capital provision, also recorded no release, as did the Ministry of Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, which had N578.17 million but received no capital release.
The Head of Service, Office of the Auditor-General, Civil Service Commission, Local Government Service Commission and Imo State Independent Electoral Commission collectively had N3.78 billion in capital provisions but recorded no release.
The Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security and Livestock Development had a combined capital budget of N20.51 billion, but no capital funds were released to them.
Similarly, the Ministries of Transport, Trade, Commerce and Investment, Science, Technology and Innovation and Engineering Services, Petroleum and Natural Gas Development, and Solid Minerals and Industries had a combined N8.24 billion capital budget but recorded zero releases.
The Office of the Governor was among the few government institutions that recorded a capital release above 10 per cent, receiving N6.95 billion from its N66.52 billion provision, representing 10.5 per cent performance.
But the other two arms of government, the legislature and the judiciary, failed to record any capital release.
The judiciary, which had a N4.42 billion capital budget, recorded zero release during the period. The Imo State House of Assembly, which had N1.71 billion budgeted for capital projects, also received no funds.
The budget performance report attributed the low level of releases primarily to the state’s weak revenue performance during the period.
With security consuming N2.19 billion in the quarter amid ongoing attacks and kidnappings, the data raises questions about how effectively increased security spending translated into improved protection for residents.
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