The Federal Government has set aside N1.371 billion in the 2026 budget to prosecute Boko Haram and other terrorism-related cases, marking a significant increase from the N530 million allocated for similar prosecutions in 2025.
The provision is contained in the 2026 Appropriation framework recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, who approved a total budget of N68.32 trillion for the fiscal year.
A breakdown of the spending plan shows that N5.41 trillion has been earmarked for defence and security, representing about 7.9 per cent of the total budget, underlining the government’s continued focus on tackling insecurity.
The allocation for terrorism-related prosecutions under the Federal Ministry of Justice rose by about 159 per cent year-on-year. In the 2026 budget, the item appears as “Boko Haram, Terrorism and Related Cases” with N1.371 billion, compared to “Management of Terrorism Related Cases/Issues” in 2025, which received N530 million.
Further analysis indicates that the provision now accounts for a larger share of the ministry’s capital expenditure. Out of the N9.725 billion capital budget for the ministry’s headquarters in 2026, about 14.1 per cent is dedicated to terrorism-related prosecutions, up from 7.9 per cent in 2025.
The overall allocation to the ministry’s headquarters also rose from N19.861 billion in 2025 to N23.685 billion in 2026, reflecting an increase of approximately 19.3 per cent. While personnel costs dropped to N3.461 billion, overheads increased to N10.5 billion, alongside higher capital spending.
Other key capital projects within the ministry include renovation of office facilities, handling of international legal cases, liability management, and reforms within the criminal justice system.
The increased funding signals a stronger emphasis on prosecuting terrorism cases, likely driven by growing caseloads, rising operational demands, and the complexity of insurgency-related trials.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, had earlier called on the judiciary to accelerate the hearing of terrorism, kidnapping, and other violent crime cases, stressing the importance of timely justice in addressing national security challenges.
Recent developments suggest intensified efforts in this direction. In April 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted several terrorism suspects, sentencing five individuals to various prison terms, including up to 20 years.
According to the Ministry of Justice, the government secured 386 convictions out of 508 terrorism-related cases handled in recent trial phases. Eight suspects were discharged, two acquitted, while 112 cases were adjourned for further hearings.
Officials say the next phase of the mass trials is scheduled for mid-June 2026, as authorities continue efforts to strengthen accountability and curb terrorism nationwide.