Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has said the current situation of Nigeria with regards means that the country is at war.
Read Also: Another Lady Calls Out Under Fire Lagos Surgeon Over Failed Cosmetic Surgery
Gbajabiamila said this at a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish a special trust fund for the Armed Forces held in Abuja on Monday.
According to him, the country’s armed forces additional funding, stating that no nation depends on annual appropriation alone to fund its armed forces in the time of crisis.
The speaker stated that the rise in criminal activities such as insurgency, kidnapping, banditry and armed robbery means that the country is at war, prompting the need for additional source of fund for the armed forces.
Read Also: No Clash Between Ife, Modakeke Indigenes – Police
He said: “Even with these extensive and wider examination of our security challenges; we cannot exclude the need for and benefit of a well-equipped and better trained military in the fight against all forms of insecurity.
“It is a historic fact that countries during war times do not fund their military through regular appropriation alone. From the USA, to the United Kingdom and all Western powers; their military was funded through extra budgetary means during periods of war.
“Nigeria is at war against insurgency, terrorism, kidnapping and all manner of insecurity; hence the need to uplift the resources available to our Armed Services to enable them procures the best tools to help win this war. So, what we seek to do in this Bill is not new or unique to us as a nation.
Read Also: How Sultan Told Babangida To Annul June 12 Because Of Abiola’s ‘Stubbornness’ – Satguru Maharaj Ji
“The solution to our security challenges requires asymmetric actions across many policy areas. This is what we have tried to do as the representatives of the people. The concept of a Trust fund already exists for the Nigerian Police.
“It only makes sense to also bolster our military capability as well through this unique vehicle. In this Bill; the Board of the Trust Fund is full of eminent Nigerians from all walks of life; this should give confidence to all of the depth of knowledge and experience that will be available to manage this fund. The National Assembly will equally play its part in over sighting this work of this Trust Fund.”
Read Also: Provide Military With Modern Weapons, Training, Babangida Tells FG
Gbajabiamila said the House is not unaware of the fact that solution to the insecurity in the land will not be by military operations alone.
In line with this, the Speaker announced that the House will soon organise a five day special security summit on national security to examine extensively non-military solutions to insecurity, including challenges with food security, environmental changes, economic development, criminal justice reform and other non-kinetic engagements.
Discussion about this post