President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the release of $1 billion for the procurement of security equipment to be used in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists.
The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, who disclosed this at the end of the national Security Council meeting presided over by President Buhari, said the meeting was to review the security situation in the country.
“I can inform you that of recent, our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, gave approval for the purchase of more equipment for the military, worth $1 billion,” he said.
Aside Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state, all other governors gave the federal government go-ahead to withdraw the money from the excess crude account.
Fayose had said Ekiti’s share of the money should be released for the fight against “Hunger Haram”, insisting that the $1 billion is to be used for the re-election of Buhari.
Addressing State House correspondents on Wednesday, the Defence minister also spoke about the specific issues discussed during the meeting.
According to the minister, “This is a normal meeting of security agencies in the country. As usual, we discussed the current activities that affected most of the states in the federation like Taraba, Zamfara and other states.
“We have operationalized a division in Sokoto; there will be a brigade in Katsina and another brigade in Zamfara that will take care of security situation in that area.
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“The strength of security personnel has increased, including the Air Force additional quick response group; they have added enough manpower in that area.”
On Leah Sharibu, the only schoolgirl in captivity out of the 119 abducted in Dapchi, Yobe state, Dan-Ali said, “Well, we are making all available efforts to see that the girl is returned safely”.
Meanwhile, the APC Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani has reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of N360billion for procurement of security equipment to fight insecurity in the country.
Defence minister, Mansur Dan-Ali, on Wednesday disclosed the release of $1 billion for procurement of security equipment to fight insecurity in the country after a three-hour meeting Buhari had with service chiefs and heads of other security agencies.
Senator Sani in a tweet described the procurement as a misplaced priority.
He said the government should have rather allocated the funds to the welfare of the officers and soldiers fighting the war.
In the series of tweets, the lawmaker wrote “A Billion dollar to purchase arms will not make sense if we don’t factor the welfare and wellbeing of the officers and soldiers fighting the war.
“A special fund for the injured, the orphans and widows of our fallen soldiers need also to be factored in. A weapon cannot fight a war without the men to use it.
“We also need to remind ourselves that our Defence Industry is moribund, before we enrich arms manufacturers in other nations. Our self-sufficiency should not be about rice alone”.
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