General Tukur Buratai

The Nigerian military on Thursday said the lack of adequate funds was responsible for the delay in nipping the activities of the militant group, Boko Haram in the bud as well as checking the security challenges currently facing the country.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai stated this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Army to defend the 2018 budget.

Buratai warned that the protracted level of insecurity in the country might continue to linger if the needed funds were not provided to enable the Army effectively and efficiently carry out its statutory duties.

He maintained that it does not augur well for the Federal Government not to release adequate funds to the military when there were serious challenges that needed to be tackled.

His words: “The inadequate budgetary allocation envelope budget system and subsisting partial release of the funds had negatively affected the Nigerian Army from achieving an almost secured environment for the country.

“The Nigerian Army is committed to securing the territory of Nigeria from any violation, such as the clearance operation to rid the country of the remnant of Boko Haram terrorists and other criminal groups. Timely and complete implementation of the budget will enhance the fulfillment of this mandate.”

“I pray that ₦195.5 billion should be approved for Nigerian Army personnel emolument in the 2018 budget, ₦26.1 billion for overhead while ₦39.8 billion should be approved for capital,” he added.

In their remarks, Chairman of the Committee, Senator George Akume said the Army had performed well with the funds it had so far received while the Committee’s Vice Chairman, Senator Ibrahim Danbaba expressed dismay that the budgeted funds were not released, saying it was either due to oversights on the side of the planners or the money was diverted and used for other things not captured in the budget.