BREAKING: Nigeria needs $6bn to tackle insecurity__ NG Army
The Nigeria Defence Headquarters said that it will need a budget of not less than $6bn in three years to effectively tackle the growing security crises across the country.
The Nigeria Defence Headquarters said that it will need a budget of not less than $6bn in three years to effectively tackle the growing security crises across the country.
According to the Director of Production, DHQ, Air Vice Marshall M. A. Yakubu, the country will have to budget not less than $2bn annually and consecutively for at least three years to be able to make the Armed Forces efficient.
Speaking at a public hearing in Abuja on Monday organised by the House Committee on Defence, on the Armed Forces Support Trust Fund, Yakubu said even the sources of funding that the Bill specifies would be inadequate to tackle the problem.
Recall that the House had introduced the bill over the growing security crises across the country a few weeks ago;
However, Yakubu stated the annual N100bn being projected to be an additional fund to the Armed Forces would still leave them underfunded.
“Nigerians, I know, are tired of being asked to pay for something. The level of poverty is severe. However, nobody wants to sleep with only one eye closed. Everybody is scared of travelling on the road because of insecurity. Therefore, I would urge that all stakeholders must educate citizens to understand the need to sacrifice because if we do not do that to address this problem, sincerely speaking, it would continue to be a mirage.
“If we are not able to raise a minimum of $2bn per annum in the next three years for a start, subsequently maybe we can begin to taper down the percentages; but for a start, we need a bulk sum because many of these manufacturers of equipment require 100 per cent down payment to even start production.
“So, you cannot sign a contract, for example with the US manufacturers, and pay 15 per cent mobilisation as required by the Procurement Act. Nobody will look at you. Their terms must be followed. Many times we are asked to pay 100 per cent. An example is the Super Tucano. This one is on a government-to-government (basis). They insist on 100 per cent payment within 30 days. No budgetary allocation will fund that.”
