…says Boko Haram, bandits, secession agitators remain security threats
Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, says Senate should raise military’s funding to enable the Armed Forces to purchase equipment and weapons to defeat the various security challenges confronting the country.
Attahiru, who made this request on Wednesday when he received the Senate Committee on Army in his office, said for the military to combat all security threats, the support and assistance of the lawmakers is required.
The COAS noted that Nigeria is currently faced with daunting security challenges, including insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West and parts of North-Central, as well as secessionist agitations in the South-East and South-West.
According to him, “To curb and finally defeat these threats, the Nigerian Army requires equipment, weapons, armour fighting vehicles, platforms, and various combat enablers.
“I urge you to, as a matter of urgency, consider these critical needs as you legislate and appropriate funds.
“I will be counting on your support, so that we can efficiently perform our constitutional roles and defeat all our threats.”
The Army boss described the committee’s visit as timely, saying it afforded them the opportunity to interact and discuss issues that would impact on the funding of Army operations.
Attahiru also assured the lawmakers that under his leadership the Army will remain apolitical and committed to the protection of democracy and good governance in Nigeria.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ali Ndume, said the purpose of the visit was to have a close understanding of the issues and needs of the Nigerian Army and find a way to address them.
Ndume said the Army has the daunting task of mitigating the various security challenges confronting the country, adding that the National Assembly was ready to give the necessary legislative support.
The lawmaker said, “That is why we are calling on the government to give the Nigerian army the necessary support and tools to execute the mandate that is highly expected.
“Fortunately, we understand that the supplementary budget will be laid before the national assembly to take care of some of the loopholes and lapses that we saw in the 2021 budget.
“Knowing the new security challenges that we are facing in various regions, we are pledging that the national assembly will give all the necessary support to the Nigerian Army; especially, when it comes to the issue of budget or supplementary budget that is coming before us.”