The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai has justified the approval for the releases of $1BN by the Federal Government to enable the military tackle Boko Haram terrorists and other security challenges facing the country.
Gen Buratai spoke at the 2 – day Second Procurement Awareness Seminar holding at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja, with the theme “Optimizing the Operational Capabilities of the Nigerian Army through an Effective Procurement System. He said the security challenges facing the country manifest in the forms of terrorism, insurgency, separatist movements and armed banditry amongst others. Thus, there is no gainsaying the operational capability of the Nigerian Army today, largely depends on availability of requisite hardware, highly trained personnel and essential resources. “Yes we need more money to further decapitate the terrorists in the North East and elsewhere as well as for training of personnel and acquisition of new weaponry, He said.
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Asked if the acquisition of new weaponry and other equipment needed to fight the war will lead to total wipe out of Boko Haram, the Army Chief said there is nothing like total wipe out in war with terrorists. Sometimes you still see pockets of group here and there engaging in soft target attacks. “In the past few years the Nigerian Army has no doubt taken robust steps and enabled policies in enhancing its procurement plans and processes with a view to meeting its constitutional roles”.
The Army Chief urged participants to use the seminar to build on the ongoing successes in the operational commitments and improve on the procurement methods as well as process in line with the provision of public procurement act 2007. He re-iterated that this seminar therefore, provides a veritable platform for us to familiarize and educate ourselves sufficiently on procurement matters that would enable the Nigerian Army compete successfully in the opportunities that may arise from National budget.
