DEFENCE
2021 Budget: Senate Committee Wants More Funding for Army
The N27 billion earmarked for capital projects for the Nigerian Army from the N13 trillion 2021 National Budget estimates is grossly inadequate, the Senate Committee on Army has said.
Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Alli Ndume (APC Borno), made the remark on behalf of the commitee when top officials of Nigerian Army appeared before the committee for budget defence session on Wednesday.
Ndume, therefore, called for improved funding for the Nigerian Army in the budget.
He said given the challenges of insecurity in parts of the country, the amount proposed for the Army would not be enough for its operations in the country.
“In a budget of N13 trillion and in a period of crisis, you can not budget less than N30 billion to the Nigerian Army. That amount is grossely inadequate especially now that we have challenges every where.
“Some N27 billion as capital to the Nigerian Army is inadequate out of a budget of N13 trillion.”
He said the Nigerian Army was operating in 33 states, noting that it required adequate funds to successfully execute its mandate especially on procurement of ammunitions.
“Those equipment in most cases are destroyed during counter attacks; therefore, the army needs money to operate effectively.
He, however, said the committee would have to be convinced on what the army needed and what it was needed for.
He urged the Army officials to be open on the issues, in the presentation of the fiscal proposal to the committee.
This, Ndume noted, would enable the committee to have a background and informed knowledge of its intentions in the budget.
He also said the provisions of required information by the Army to the committee would enable the committee to support their positions in the budget.
“We will look at what you have done so far and what you need and then do the needful and see how we can help ourselves as Nigerians for the security of Nigerians.
“The main purpose of government is security and welfare of the citizens.
“But we can not do that, you wear the shoe, you have to open up to the committee.
“Tell us your problem, defend what you have done before so that we can stand with you and talk from the background of Knowledge any where.
“The budget is two fold, you give account for what you were given in 2020 and and amount appropriated and released and what you intend to do in 2021.”
Ndume said the Army was one of the most important agencies of government in the Nigerian context especially with current challenges of insurgency, banditry, farmers herdsmen clashes, and other forms of criminality across the country.
He said the committee had begun its oversight visits to eight Army divisions in the country.
“We intend to go to all, we have visited the 8 Division in Sokoto that is being operated in Sokoto, Kastina and Zamfara.
“We have seen what is on, ground and we have also had discussions with the local people and have a feel of what is going on.
Ndume also told journalists after a closed door budget presentation by the Army officials that the committee was not disposed to de-radicalisation of repentant Boko Haram members in the country.
He said it was not in the best interest of Nigerians to re-integrate the professed repentant Boko Haram members into the society when the war on insurgency was still on.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen.Tukur Buratai, was represented at the budget defence which was a closed door session by Lt.Gen Lamidi Adeosun, Army Chief of Policy and Planning.(NAN)
The Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna has urged residents of Mando, Tsamiya, Kauya and Afaka general areas not to panic over its scheduled shooting exercise.This
This is contained in a statement issued by the NDA Public Relations Officer, Maj. Mohammed Maidawa, on Wednesday in Kaduna.
Maidawa, said the exercise is for the Army cadets of 73 and 74 Regular Courses.
The exercises, he said, are scheduled to hold from April 18 to April 20 abd from April 26 to April 27.
“The NDA assures the general public that all necessary safety measures have been put in place for the successful conduct of the exercise.
“However, the general public is advised to avoid trespassing in the general area throughout the period of the exercise,” the army said.
.(NAN)
The Police Command in Enugu State has arrested an Enugu resident, one Mmaduabuchi Okonkwo, 24, suspected to be in possession of, and transacting in, fake Naira notes.
A statement by the Command’s spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, said that operatives serving in Abakaliki Road Police Division, with the support of law-abiding citizens, arrested Okonkwo of Mkpologu, Emene, Enugu, at the Old IMT Bus Stop, Abakaliki Road, Enugu, on April 10.
According to him, the suspect’s arrest is sequel to his alleged possession, and transacting in, counterfeited Naira notes.
“A total of ₦40,000 suspected counterfeited one thousand denominated Naira notes were recovered from him.
“A preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect boarded a minibus from New Haven Junction to Old IMT Bus Stop, Enugu, and gave the driver one of the counterfeited notes.
“The driver, however, scrutinised and observed that the currency was fake, and quickly raised an alarm that led to the suspect’s arrest.
“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to having paid the sum of ₦25,000 genuine Naira notes to his cohort at large for the counterfeited Naira notes worth ₦50,000,” he said.
Ndukwe said that he further confessed to having spent ₦10,000 out of the fake notes, with the remaining ₦40,000 recovered from him.
“The suspect will be arraigned and prosecuted once investigations are concluded,” he said. (NAN)
Umar Mohammed, the Kwara Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), on Tuesday in Ibadan called for an increase in vigilance.
He said the appeal was necessary to confront the challenges of insecurity, violence and other social vices in various communities in the state.
The Commandant said the recent rise in security challenges in the state necessitated the upgrading of the police outpost to a fully operational divisional office.
p”This is in order to address insecurity more effectively.
“The establishment of the division will no doubt improve operational efficiency, thereby reducing possible threats to peaceful coexistence,” he said.
The Commandant applauded the people of Ipee community, most especially Mr Olayiwola Oyebode, Deputy Speaker of Kwara House of Assembly, for their unwavering commitment and support for the project.
He assured the community that their efforts would not go in vain.
”I promise utmost security and well-being, and the NSCDC will work tirelessly to address all your security challenges,” Mohammed said.
He urged members of the community to remain vigilant and actively support the Corps by providing credible and timely information that would enhance their operations.
“Security is a collective responsibility and everyone should play their part in keeping their community safe, by working together and sharing information promptly,” the Commandant said.
The Deputy Speaker of State House of Assembly, Mr Olayiwola Oyebode, thanked the Commandant for his cooperation and efforts in ensuring the protection of lives and properties in the community and the state in general.
He urged the Commandant to deploy additional personnel to the new division in order to increase the safety and security of the people in the community.
In his remark, the Onipe of Ipee, Oba Lawal Adebayo, expressed gratitude to the Corps for the steadfast dedication to ensuring safety in the community and urged for sustained efforts.
Oba Adebayo also thanked Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for his continuous support in upholding peace and security within the state.(NAN)
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