The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, has urged the Senate, in their legislation and appropriation of funds, to consider the critical needs of the Nigerian Army, NA, to defeat all security threats.
Attahiru made the solicitation when members of the Senate Committee on Army, led by its Chairman, Sen. Ali Ndume, paid an oversight visit to the Army Headquarters on Wednesday in Abuja.
TheFact Nigeria reports that the Army Chief acknowledged the timelines of the courtesy visit, adding that it afforded the parties the opportunity to interact and discuss issues that would impact on the funding of army activities and operations.
Recounting the myriad of security threats of insurgency, banditry and secessionist agitations which Nigeria is currently grappling with, the COAS stressed that, “To curb and finally defeat these threats, the Nigerian army requires equipment, weapons, armour fighting vehicles, platforms and various combat enablers.
“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,” he said.
Attahiru further gave assurances of the NA’s commitment, under his leadership, to the protection of democracy and good governance in Nigeria, while remaining apolitical.
Speaking, the leader of the delegation, Ndume, said the purpose of the visit was to have close understanding of the issues and needs of the Nigerian army and find a way to address them.
While acknowledging that Nigerian army had daunting tasks of mitigating the various security challenges confronting the country, Ndume assured that the National Assembly was ready to give the necessary legislative support.
He said that the service chiefs had been given assurances that they would do their bests to meet the expectations of Nigerians in tackling the prevailing security challenges.
According to him, the bottom line is that they must be given what they need to carry out the assignment, which is money, equipment, and personnel.
“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.
“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.
“And, 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”, Ndume stated.
