N1.1trn spent on army in 3yrs enough to end insecurity – Rep

The House of Representatives member from Goza/Damboa/Chibok federal constituency in Borno State, Ahmed Jaha, said the N1.1 trillion spent on the Nigerian Army in the last three years of Buhari’s administration was enough to end insecurity in the country.

Jaha disclosed this on Wednesday while distributing farm inputs to his constituents at the Government House, Maiduguri.

Jaha, who decried the rising insecurity in the country, particularly his constituency, said farmers are being killed on a daily basis to prevent them from harvesting.

He alleged that there were compromises in the money appropriated to the Nigerian Army during the past President Buhari’s administration.

“I was an active member of the Nigerian Army Committee in the House of Representatives and I know what was appropriated in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

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“In 2020, we appropriated N420 billion for the Nigerian Army alone. I’m not talking of the air force, navy, DSS, police and other agents of coercion. Out of N420 billion, only N16 billion was earmarked for expenditure; the remaining amount was for recurrent expenditure. 

“In 2021, we budgeted 460 billion, and in addition to that, there was N100 billion for Operation Lafiya Dole and substantial amounts from this money were for recurrent expenditure.

“In 2022, we budgeted N591 billion out of which less than 50 billion was for capital expenditure; the remaining was for recurrent expenditure.

“So, what I’m trying to say in a nutshell is, in the past, there had been a huge amount of money that had been appropriated for security agencies in the country without proper supervision of how they spent it.

“There were a lot of compromises left, right and centre, which I know, with the current administration, is not going to be a business as usual.

“If the money were used for the purpose intended, we would have ended the insecurity situation we have in this country. But as you can see, it keeps expanding,” he said.

On whether the funds appropriated to the Nigerian Army were fully released, he said, “From my understanding, no agency of government has complained openly or subliminally for non-release of funds.”