Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) Weekly Subject Experts’ Presentation was held at Hall C TY Buratai Block Abuja. The only presentation for the day was made by the Subject Experts on, Eastern Europe.
The presentation was made by Brig Gen Ak Egwuagu (Rtd) subject expert on Eastern Europe, his presentation Centred on how, Russia Continues to Prioritize Military Spending Despite Declining Oil and Gas Revenues. On May 7, 2025, the British Ministry of Defence said Russia had continued to increase its military spending to the detriment of her economy, with its forecast for oil and gas currently reduced by 25% (UNN, May 7, 2025). It noted that the Russian Federation continues to increase its military spending which harms her overall economic stability and due to pressure on its ability to finance her planned budget, the Ministry of Finance has revised its forecast for oil and gas revenues for 2025 by 25% – from 10.94tn rubles to 8.32tn rubles. Russia’s forecast budget deficit for 2025 has been increased from 0.5% to 1.7% of GDP, while she continues to prioritize military spending and the country is likely to further deplete its financial reserves to support high government spending on the Ukraine War even if oil prices remain low. As a result of this development, US President Donald Trump is threatening to sign Senator Lindsey Graham’s bill on new sanctions against Russia, if she fails to prove it is ready to move towards a peace agreement.
In his analysis and lessons for Nigeria Brig Gen Ak Egwuagu (Rtd) noted that, Over the years, Nigeria has continued to grapple with insurgency by BH, ISWAP and Lakurawa terrorists, herders/farmers clashes, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of security threats nationwide. Consequently, the FGN has continued to strengthen its military capabilities to tackle these challenges through increased military spending and provision of new military equipment, resulting to improved security outcomes. However, Nigeria’s military hardware has faced significant attacks from terrorist groups that have substantially destroyed many military equipment including aircraft, artillery guns, armoured and troops carrying vehicles. BHT have launched several attacks on Nigerian military targets and on 2nd Dec 2013, hundreds of its fighters overran a NAF base in Maiduguri, killed 20 security personnel, and destroyed two helicopters and three decommissioned military aircraft before burning down the headquarters (Meta AI). On Apr 2, 2021 Abubakar Shekau’s BH faction released a video that showed how they shut down a NAF Alpha Jet which had lost radar contact while conducting a routine mission in the Sambisa Forest area (HumAngle, 2 Apr 21).27 Task Force Brigade, Buni Yadi in Yobe State was attacked by BHT on May 4, 2025, killed four soldiers, destroyed and looted several military hardware in the base (Arise News, 4th May 2025). Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen invaded the Odugbeho Community in Agatu LGA of Benue State on 7 May 2025, and killed the district head, Chief Tony Adejo in his farm (Daily Post, May 7, 2025). It may be recalled that a total of 53 traditional rulers were killed in similar incidents across Nigeria between Nov 2011 and 2021, and many more have been killed ever since (Punch, 10 Mar 2021). The DHQ has blamed foreign herders for the attacks on local communities and killing of farmers in Plateau, Benue and other states, with the Director of Defence Media Operations explaining that, the way the herders speak and their physical appearance, suggests they are not from Nigeria (Leadership Friday, 9 May 2025). During the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing on 7 May 2025, the MOD, Mohammed Abubakar, said the Nigerian military in collaboration with the MNJTF have neutralized 13,543 terrorists/criminals and rescued nearly 10,000 hostages between May 2023 and Feb 2025 (Business Day, May 7, 2025).
He recommended that, The FGN, NASS and MOD should immediately review the current strategy applied in tackling the prolonged security challenges in Nigeria with a view to adopting a better option and also NASS and MOD should consider adopting the community based approach initiative to simultaneously tackle Nigeria’s prolonged security challenges from the grass root in all the 774 LGAs.
