The Senate Committee on Army Monday expressed worry over the deplorable condition of Army barracks nationwide.
It said the bad state of the barracks was a result of the ongoing wars against insurgency and banditry.
The committee’s chairman, Senator Ali Ndume stated this while speaking with journalists after members visited some military formations in Plateau and Bauchi States for oversight activities.
He said the resources that should have been used to renovate the barracks were being used to pay allowances to the officers fighting insurgents and bandits.
He said: “The condition of the barracks is deplorable. The perimeter fencing, the road network and the walls of the buildings are all dilapidated and they need a complete rehabilitation or even reconstruction.
“The Nigerian Army is being involved in activities that are not its primary responsibilities. The Nigerian Army is combatant and it is used to fighting conventional wars.
“They’re now involved in duties that should ordinarily been handled by the police or other security agencies…Too much funds are going into the various operations, especially with the insurgency in the North East, banditry in the North West and instances of farmers-herders clashes as well as other tribal crisis.
“It’s unfortunate that the Nigerian Army for a long time has not been properly taken care of.
“The condition of the barracks are bad because they’re not being maintained while much money is going into operations.”
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