Controversy ensued on Friday after the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd.), alleged that $1bn funds meant to purchase arms to tackle insurgency during the ex-service chiefs’ tenure got missing.
Hours later, the office of the National Security Adviser denied saying that some funds meant to purchase arms under the leadership of the former service chiefs were missing.
Monguno had during an interview with BBC Hausa explained that the new service chiefs who recently assumed office did not meet the money for arm or equipment purchase as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
In response to a question on why the Buhari regime was foot-dragging in the fight against banditry, Monguno said, “The President has done his best by approving huge sums of money for the purchase of weapons, but the weapons were not bought, they are not here. Now, he has appointed new service chiefs, hopefully, they will devise some ways.
“I’m not saying the former service chiefs diverted the money, but the money is missing. We don’t know how, and nobody knows for now. I believe Mr President will investigate where the money went.”
Monguno added that the Nigerian Governors’ Forum was also wondering where all the funds meant for arms went.
He said, “I can assure you the President takes issues of this nature seriously.
“The fact is that preliminary investigation showed the funds are missing and the equipment is nowhere to be found.
“When the new service chiefs assumed office, they also said they didn’t see anything on the ground.”
The revelation triggered diverse reactions from Nigerians on social media.
While some were of the opinion that General Buratai and the ex-service chiefs should be investigated others said they should be arrested and made to give account of how they spent the money.
Reacting, NSA in a statement released on Friday evening, said Monguno was quoted out of context as he did not categorically say that funds meant for arms procurement were missing under the Former Service Chiefs as reported or transcribed by some media outlets from the BBC interview.
The statement also said that the National Security Adviser only reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to deal decisively with insecurity and President Buhari’s continued commitment to provide all necessary support to the Armed Forces, including the provision of arms and equipment.
“The attention of the Office of the National Security Adviser has been drawn to some media reports regarding Armed Forces equipment during an interview with the BBC Hausa service.
“We would like to state that the NSA was quoted out of context as he did not categorically say that funds meant for arms procurement were missing under the Former Service Chiefs as reported by some news outlets.
“The National Security Adviser only reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to deal decisively with insecurity and the President’s commitment to provide all necessary support to the Armed Forces, including the provision of arms and equipment
“In the interview, the National Security Adviser clearly informed the BBC reporter that Mr President has provided enormous resources for arms procurement, but the orders were either inadequate or yet to be delivered and that did not imply that the funds were misappropriated under the former Service Chiefs.
“Also, Mr. President is following up on the procurement process as is usual with contracts relating to military equipment, in most cases the process involves manufacturing, due diligence and tedious negotiations that may change delivery dates,” the statement said.
