Nigeria's Weapons Imports Gulps N15.8 Billion in the First Half of 2022
- The Nigerian government spent about N15.8 billion importing weapons in the first half of 2022
- According to the investigation, the amount was a decline compared to the amount paid at the same time last year
- Experts believe that the drop was due to improvements in the local manufacturing of weapons in the country
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The Nigerian government used about N15.8 billion to import arms and ammunition in the first half of 2022, representing a 60.3 per cent drop compared to N39.8 billion used in 2021.
A report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) gave the breakdown of the weapons imported by Nigeria. It said there is a 71.8 per cent decline compared to 2021 from N56.1 billion recorded between July and December 2022.
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Billions spent bringing weapons into Nigeria every year
According to reports, annually, Nigeria used N72.49 billion to bring weapons into Nigeria in 2021, against N29.34 billion and N12.77 billion recorded in 2020 and 2019, respectively. In 2018, Nigeria spent just N1.29 billion was used to import weapons into Nigeria.
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The spike in the purchase of arms by Nigeria follows the increasing spate of insecurity across the country, especially insurgency, banditry and other shooter attacks across the length and breadth of the country.
Despite increasing insecurity in Nigeria, weapons imports decreased significantly in the year under review.
Agriculture suffers due to insecurity
The country's food-producing areas have been affected the most as attacks have persisted in the region in the last 11 years and have caused setbacks in the agricultural sector.
NBS gave no reason for the decline in weapons imports. However, experts say it could result from a cut in government expenditure and improved domestic weapons manufacturing.
In 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari noted that the Nigerian government is ready to reduce its dependence on foreign supply of weapons and military hardware for Nigeria.
Nigerians apend N491.71bn buying alcohol, soft drinks from four companies in 9 months to stay happy
Legit.ng reported that Nigerians have long been among the world's happy people, once placing higher than Britons in the worldwide happiness index.
While circumstances have changed and Nigeria's happiness score has declined dramatically, Nigerians' desire to have fun has not.
According to the audited financials of top drinks makers in the country, Nigerians spent over N491.71 billion on products from the brewery industry in the first 9 months of 2021.
Source: Legit.ng
