Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle asserts that with 50 armoured personnel carriers, banditry in Katsina forests could be eliminated within two months. He argues that the N50 billion allocated to the Ministry of Defence in the 2025 budget is insufficient to address the nation's security challenges, highlighting a N18 billion reduction from the previous year. Matawalle emphasizes the need for adequate funding to procure necessary equipment and support personnel, while also detailing his and his colleagues' personal involvement in security efforts across various states.
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has expressed confidence that banditry in Katsina's forests could be eradicated within two months with the support of 50 armored personnel carriers (APCs). Matawalle made this assertion on Tuesday during his presentation of the Ministry of Defence's 2025 budget before the House of Representatives Committee on Defence.
He acknowledged the persistent challenge of banditry in the north-west region, particularly in Katsina, and stressed that the N50 billion allocated to the ministry in the 2025 budget fell short of addressing the nation's security concerns.He pointed out that the 2025 allocation represented a reduction of N18 billion compared to the previous year's budget, further hampering the ministry's operational capabilities. Matawalle voiced concern that despite these financial constraints, there were high expectations for the ministry to effectively combat insecurity. He stated, “In 2024, we could only provide 20 APCs, which are insufficient for tackling the scale of the problem. If we had 50 APCs to go into the bush and flush out bandits, I assure you we could resolve the issue in two months. But there’s no provision for that.” Matawalle appealed to the lawmakers to reconsider the budgetary allocation, ensuring the ministry could procure essential equipment and meet the demands of ongoing security challenges across various regions. He disclosed that despite the financial limitations, he and his colleagues, including Defence Minister Abubakar Badaru, have been actively engaged in security efforts in states like Sokoto, Zamfara, and Katsina, often without official funding support. The minister further elaborated that the inadequate budget had hindered the renovation of military barracks and the timely payment of entitlements to personnel involved in operations. He cited a recent instance where he personally wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari to secure funding for the payment of presidential guards due to a budget shortfall. House Committee Chairman Babajimi Benson commended the military's progress in combating insurgency, banditry, and other security threats, reiterating the parliament's commitment to supporting the armed forces in securing the nation. Benson emphasized that the budget defence was a crucial aspect of their responsibility to ensure a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria
SECURITY BUDGET BANDITRY MILITARY NIGERIA
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