Nigeria spent N804.10 billion on arms and ammunition imports between 2020 and the second quarter of 2025, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The figures highlight the country’s growing reliance on external suppliers despite ongoing efforts by the government to boost domestic arms production. Analysts warn that the rising import bill poses risks to Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves and long-term national security independence.
NBS foreign trade data showed that in 2020, Nigeria imported arms and ammunition, including parts, worth N29.24 billion. The bill surged to N72.50 billion in 2021, before dropping to N28.24 billion in 2022.
However, imports spiked again in 2023, hitting N127.16 billion, and climbed astronomically to N520.02 billion in 2024, the highest in five years. Between January and June 2025, arms imports reached N26.95 billion, with N22.08 billion recorded in Q1 and N4.87 billion in Q2.
The sustained increase has reignited calls from local manufacturers, who argue that deeper collaboration with the country’s Armed Forces could significantly cut down Nigeria’s dependency on imports and reduce the huge foreign exchange outflow.
Industry experts say that expanding domestic production would not only conserve scarce FX but also enhance Nigeria’s defence capacity and security resilience.
