Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Yusuf Buratai (retd.), has clarified the controversy surrounding the $1 billion approved for defence procurement during his tenure, insisting that the money was released directly to the Ministry of Defence and not to the Nigerian Army, Navy or Air Force.
Buratai explained that the funds approved by the National Economic Council (NEC) were managed by the Ministry of Defence, stressing that he and other military service chiefs did not receive the money for procurement purposes.
According to the retired general, none of the three military services had direct access to the funds or the authority to issue procurement directives under the arrangement.
He also dismissed allegations linking military service chiefs to the alleged diversion of the money, describing the accusations as politically motivated and malicious.
Buratai said the allegations emerged during the 2019 election period, creating public suspicion about the management of the defence funds and placing military commanders under scrutiny.
He noted that although the Federal Government had publicly rejected claims that the money was diverted to finance political campaigns, the resulting controversy continued to affect the reputation of military officers.
The former army chief faulted the Ministry of Defence for failing to adequately explain how the funds were managed, arguing that service chiefs faced public criticism despite not being directly responsible for handling the money.
He called for greater transparency and accountability in defence procurement, proposing the establishment of a dedicated Defence Procurement Transparency Portal.
According to him, the proposed platform should provide information on broad categories of awarded contracts, the companies or entities handling them, and expected delivery schedules, while protecting information that could compromise national security.
Buratai maintained that the ministry responsible for managing the funds should provide explanations whenever questions arise about their utilisation.
He also addressed concerns about human rights violations involving military personnel, stating that members of the Armed Forces must remain subject to the law.
The retired general said credible allegations against military personnel should be properly investigated, with prosecution pursued whenever the evidence supports such action.
Meanwhile, former Senate President and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Ahmed Lawan, reaffirmed the National Assembly’s support for Nigeria’s security agencies.
Lawan said the legislature had continued to approve funding requests submitted by the executive to strengthen the operational capacity of the Armed Forces and ensure they had the necessary equipment to perform their duties.
Also speaking, Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, highlighted the increasing complexity of security challenges facing Nigeria and other countries.
Musa noted that terrorist organisations and criminal networks were constantly adapting their methods, exploiting technological weaknesses and gaps in coordination among security agencies.
His remarks underscored the need for improved capabilities, effective coordination and adequate resources to address evolving security threats.
The controversy surrounding the $1 billion defence procurement fund has continued to raise questions about accountability in military spending, the responsibilities of the Ministry of Defence and the importance of transparent procurement procedures.
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