Nigeria News

Tension as Osinbajo asks military to account for security expenditure

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called on the military authority to account for security expenditure.

According to the VP, the need for transparency in the management of resources meant for the acquisition of hardware for the defence and security agencies.

He spoke late Wednesday during a virtual interaction after receiving a presentation on “Defence Transformation and National Security: Strategic Options for Nigeria of the Future”, by the National Defence College Course 30 participants.

In his presentation to the participants of the Defence College, the vice president said, “There needs to be more accountability because every time you hear about ‘we not having enough equipment,’ but there must be accountability.

“I will like to see a framework for greater accountability within the Ministry of Defence that ensures that they are able to account for military expenditure,” he said in a statement issued Thursday by his spokesman, Laolu Akande.

He said Nigeria’s current security challenges and emerging threats required the military and other relevant stakeholders to be several steps ahead of perpetrators while also stepping up local production of armaments.

According to him, “If you look at the challenges that we are facing and the nature of those challenges, it is evident that we need to be many steps ahead of non-state actors in particular who are perpetrators of this asymmetric warfare that we are experiencing.”

Prof. Osinbajo, while commending the course participants for their efforts in proposing innovations in the defence sector, stressed the urgency of the local production of arms.

“If we say the local companies should produce some of the mobile platforms like Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle (MRAV), if we give them the contracts, they will produce, but if we choose to import rather than produce locally then we will never develop our military-industrial complex.”

Earlier in a presentation on behalf of the Course 30 participants, Col. A. A. Adamu proposed, among other things, the restructuring of the Ministry of Defence to reflect contemporary challenges as well as contain emerging threats to defence and security.

Other officials present at the event included the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; the Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Adm. Murtala Bashir, and representative of the Inspector General of Police, among other senior officers from the college.

Ben Idah

Recent Posts

BREAKING: Tinubu govt bows to pressure, drops treason charges against EndBadGovernance protesters

The Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the case against individuals charged in connection with…

3 hours ago

Benue: ‘I’m not behind Ukpute-Bonta crisis’ – Rep David Ogewu

The member representing Oju/Obi Federal Constituency and Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Army,…

3 hours ago

Tension as new terrorist group ‘LAKURAWAS’ emerges in Nigeria

The Sokoto State Government has raised alarms about the emergence of a new terrorist group…

4 hours ago

Ujah: Ministry of Education breaks silence on suspension of FUHSO VC, issues fresh order

The Federal Ministry of Education has formally addressed the suspension of Prof. Innocent A.O. Ujah…

5 hours ago

‘Herdsmen after our women’ – Idoma community raises alarm

Residents of Ukwonyo community in the Ufia axis of Ado Local Government Area, Benue State,…

5 hours ago

FUHSO: Why we suspended Prof Ujah as Otukpo varsity Vice Chancellor – Governing Council

The Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, has explained why it…

5 hours ago