BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – The National Security Adviser (NSA) to President Muhammadu Buhari, Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd), has opened a can of worms accusing the immediate past Service Chiefs that were recently confirmed as Ambassadors by the Senate of squandering funds allocated for the purchase of arms to fight terrorists and bandits in the country.
General Monguno told the BBC Hausa Service programme that it is not reluctance in handling the bandits, adding that even the new Service Chiefs have confirmed that they could not find anything on the ground with regards to the arms purchased for the war against insecurity.
The NSA was however quick to add that he is not saying the former Service Chiefs embezzled the arms money, saying; “but it is a fact that money budgeted for that purpose has been misappropriated and no one can account for it”.
The NSA assured that President Buhari will surely investigate the matter, adding that even the Nigeria Governors’ Forum has started complaining that in spite of the billions of dollars allocated for security, there is nothing on the ground to show, stressing that he can confidently say that the President will not take the matter lightly.
Asked to confirm if the arms money was embezzled by the former Service Chiefs turned ambassadors, the NSA said, “I can’t say for now since it is subject to investigations which will reveal the facts of the matter. But, it is certain that the money has been misappropriated and cannot be accounted for and the new Service Chiefs have confirmed that they have not seen anything on ground to justify the allocated funds, adding that; “there is nothing on ground as I am speaking to you now”.
Monguno while commending President Buhari for providing enough resources for tackling insecurity in the country, however said that some of the setbacks could be blamed on the former Service Chiefs.
According to him; “The President has done his utmost best by releasing huge funds for procurement of arms but they were not purchased. We couldn’t see anything on ground.
“The president is providing all the necessary supports and encouragements for the new Service Chiefs to ensure they succeed in tackling the myriads of insecurity in the country,” he said.
President Buhari had in January 2021 retired the former Service Chiefs namely General Abayomi Olonisakin – Chief of Defence Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai – Chief of Army Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas – Chief of Naval Staff and Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar – Chief of Air Staff,.
