In a move that will generate much controversy, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the release of one billion dollars for the procurement of equipment for the military to prosecute the fight against insecurity in Nigeria. President Buhari gave the approval on Wednesday at a meeting he held with the Heads of the nation’s security agencies in place of the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC.
The Defense Minister, Retired Major-General Mansur Dan-Ali, who made this known while briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, said the insecurity situation in Taraba, Zamfara and other states was also discussed.
The National Economic Council, NEC, at its meeting in Abuja last December, had resolved that one billion dollars should be withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account to boost the fight by the military against insurgency.
The proposal to withdraw the huge amount from the account was flayed by some Nigerians who argued that only the National Assembly could make appropriations to the security agencies.
The Minister of Defense also told newsmen on Wednesday that the military had deployed a division in Sokoto, a brigade in Katsina and Zamfara states as well as a quick response group drawn from the Nigeria Air Force to boost the manpower that would take care of the security situation in that area.
The closed-door security meeting was attended by the Minister of Defense, Retired Brigadier-General Mansur Dan-Ali; Chief of Defense Staff, General Gabriel Olonishakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt- General Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Ibok Ekwe; National Security Adviser, NSA, Retired Major-General Babagana Mongunu; Director-General of the Department of State Service, DSS, Lawal Daura and the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.
