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Army needs more funds to combat insecurity – Attahiru
By Modupe Shodeinde
The Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru, has informed the Senate of the need to improve funding for the military to purchase equipment and weapons.
He stated that the support of the lawmakers is needed to assist the military to defeat all security threats.
Attahiru who stated this on Wednesday while receiving the senate committee on army in his office, said Nigeria is faced with a lot of security challenges that include insurgency in the north-east, banditry in the north-west and parts of north-central, as well as secessionist agitations in the south-east.
“To curb and finally defeat these threats, the Nigerian army requires equipment, weapons, armour fighting vehicles, platforms, and various combat enablers,” he said.
“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.”
Attahiru commented on the timeliness of the committee’s visit, as it afforded them the opportunity to interact and discuss issues that would impact on the funding of army operations.
He also assured the lawmakers that the army, under his leadership, will remain apolitical and committed to the protection of democracy and good governance in Nigeria.
Chairman of the committee, 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.
He said the national assembly was ready to give the necessary legislative support to the army, tasked with the duty of mitigating the various security challenges confronting the country
“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,” he said.
“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.”
The development comes after soldiers at the frontline had lamented lack of adequate weapons.
