Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru has said it will be difficult to tackle the nation’s security challenges such as banditry, kidnapping, insurgency and threat of secession without the necessary weapons.
To this end, the army chief pleaded with members of the National Assembly to urgently consider these critical needs while appropriating funds.
Gen Attahiru stated this Wednesday when the Ali Ndume- led Senate committee on army visited the Army headquarters, Abuja on an oversight function.
“To curb and finally defeat these threats, the Nigerian Army requires equipment, weapons, armour fighting vehicles, platforms and various combat enablers.
“As we all know, Nigeria is faced with a lot of security challenges that include insurgency in the North East, banditry in the North West and part of North Central as well as secessionist agitations in the South East and South-South geo-political zones of the country.
“I urge you to, as a matter of urgency, consider these critical needs as you legislate and appropriate funds. I will be counting on your support so that we can efficiently perform our constitutional roles and defeat all our threats,” the COAS said.
He also said the visit was timely “because it affords us the opportunity to interact and discuss issues that would impact on the funding of Nigerian Army activities and operations while also strengthening the cordial relationship between the National Assembly and Army headquarters.”
Attahiru assured that the Nigerian Army under his watch would remain apolitical and committeed to the protection of democracy and good governance in the country.
Earlier, Senator Ndume had said the visit was to have some level of understanding on the issues and the needs of the Army with a view to addressing them.
He said the task ahead of the army was daunting, assuring that the National Assembly was ready to do its beat.
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