Peter Azi,

Muhammad Tanko Shittu, Journalist

Public Affairs Commentator

Security is a key component to the development and growth of every nation, so countries put in their best to ensure the protection of lives and property of their citizens. Nigeria shouldn’t be an exception. No country in the world can have good performance from its security operatives without adequate funding, more so in this technological age. Looking at our security challenges, one shouldn’t hesitate to support the idea of injecting adequate funds into the security architecture.

Nigeria is a country that doesn’t produce even simple arms and ammunition, talk less of the sophisticated arms driven by high technology. Therefore, our security agencies deserve increased in funding, not only for the equipping of the military, but also for the overall welfare of all the security operatives. The appeal made by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, is indeed a clarion call at this time of pressing need, which I vehemently advocate for. May I also advocate that a special trust fund be set up for the purpose of funding the military.

The increase of funding for the Nigerian Army is necessary, if not compulsory, considering the poor infrastructure in the barracks, inadequate arms and ammunition and inconsistent payment of welfare of the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army who are at the warfront.

I support the increment, but I advise that the disbursement and implementation be monitored in order to ensure that it is judiciously spent. The Nigerian Army needs to have modern technological equipment, sophisticated arms and ammunition in order to win the war against Boko Haram terrorists. The equipment are expensive.