We Need More Funding To Tackle Boko Haram, Others – Army Chief

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai has said that the Nigerian Army needed more funding to execute the internal security operations, including the fight with Boko Haram insurgents.
General Buratai, who spoke through the General Officer commanding 6 Division of Nigerian Army, Major General Jamil Sarham today, October 28, in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State, emphasized the need for the Federal Government to improve its funding to the military to meet with current challenges of curbing insurgency in the country.
According to him, the current funding is inadequate in view of the roles army is playing in internal security of the nation, adding that the Nigerian Army finance corps remained central to the performance and effectiveness of the army, both in operations and peace times.
In the keynote address on the 12th biennial training conference for the Nigeria Army Finance Corp, with the theme, “Expanding the roles of Nigerian Army in internal security operation: Funding Imperatives,” the Army Chief said that new strategies, including increasing capacity of troops in defense, logistics and intensified combat intelligence gathering towards wiping out the insurgents.
He said that army has started manufacturing military vehicles and equipment to boost operational capability and more recently the injection of the Super camp Concept, saying: “in order to mitigate the identified challenges, we have had to be innovative and inventive to devise new response strategies to combat the insurgents.
“Some of the strategies include increasing capacity of troops in defense, logistics and intensified combat intelligence gathering.
“We have also manufactured military vehicles and equipments to boost operational capability and more recently the injection of the Super camp Concept.”
He said despite some daunting challenges of operations, the army is gradually turning the tide against insurgents.
He commended the effort of the Army Chief Accounts and Budget with his team whom he noted carried out the role of Finance Corps effectively to ensure prudent management of resources to achieve value for money.
In his remarks, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, called on the private sector to assist in funding the operations of the Nigerian Army saying that government cannot do it alone
Emmanuel, who was represented by Mr Akan Okon, Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport, however, commended the army for its role in curbing insurgency, kidnapping, banditry and other security challenges confronting the nation.
Also, the Chief of Account and Budget (Army), Major General Adekola Bakare said that the theme was deliberately chosen to enunciate the challenges posed by inadequate funding of the army operations in spite of its expanding roles in internal security.
He said that the conference would afford participants the opportunity to conduct a detailed appraisal of the current policies and procedures towards repositioning the Corps to provide transparent and efficient services to the Nigerian Army.