HL Deb 30 March 1981 vol 419 c106WA
Lord Barnby

asked Her Majesty's Government:

With regard to the reported 200,000 strength of Nigeria's standing Army, what is the percentage ratio of its defence expenditure to its gross national product; and what is the similar ratio for the United Kingdom.

Lord Trefgarne

The latest figures available from the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency refer to 1977 and show that Nigerian defence expenditure was 4.2 per cent. of GNP; while in the same year the figure for the United Kingdom was 4.8 per cent.