Alleged Looted Arms Fund: I Was Quoted Out Of Context – NSA-Monguno

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – Hours after his interview with the BBC Hausa Service was carried by other news outlets, the National Security Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd) has made a U-turn, saying that he was quoted out of context.

Monguno in the BBC Hausa Service interview was quoted as having said that the arms fund provided approved and provided by President Muhammadu Buhari, was misappropriated by former Service Chiefs, adding that the present Service Chiefs have said that they did not see anything on ground to indicate that arms were purchased with the funds.

The NSA also said that members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum are already complaining over the funds released for the arms purchase with nothing to show for it, adding that President Buhari would certainly cause the investigation of the matter.

However, in an unsigned statement issued by his office, Monguno said that he did not categorically said that funds meant for arms procurement were missing under the former Service Chiefs as reported or transcribed by some media outlets from the BBC interview.

The statement explained that during the interview, General Monguno only reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to deal decisively with insecurity and stated President Muhammadu Buhari’s continued commitment to provide all necessary support to the Armed Forces, including the provision of arms and equipment.

The statement further said; “In the interview the National Security Adviser clearly informed the BBC reporter that Mr President has provided enormous resources for arms procurement, but the orders were either inadequate or yet to be delivered and that did not imply that the funds were misappropriated under the former Service Chiefs.

“The NSA also informed the reporter that, Mr President is following up on the procurement process as is usual with contracts relating to military equipments, in most cases the process involves manufacturing, due diligence and tedious negotiations that may change delivery dates.

“As the National Security Adviser conveyed during the Aso Villa Media Briefing, questions relating to Defence procurement should be channelled to the Ministry of Defence.

“All Security and Intelligence agencies are working together to bring an end to insecurity with the full support of Mr. President and Stakeholders including the media and civil society as part of a whole-of-government and a whole-of-society approach to address our security challenges,” it states.