Army chief: Our theatre of operations has expanded, we need more funding

Faruk Yahaya, chief of army staff, says the Nigerian army needs more funding to sustain its operations across the country.

Yahaya who appeared before the house of representatives committee on army to defend the army’s 2023 budget on Tuesday said the proposal “was prepared based on the need to sustain the tempo and the fight against insurgency” and other violent crimes.

He said the army has been involved in internal security operations across the six geo-political zones with varying intensities. 

According to him, the Nigerian Army has developed processes and tactics to overwhelm enemies in kinetic and non-kinetic battles.  

He said the army has also evolved strategies to win the heart and minds of the local population and safeguard the nation’s integrity.

This effort, he says, requires investment “in our personnel welfare, leadership capacity building, procurement of necessary equipment, and infrastructure which are hinged on adequate funding.”

“As you are all aware, the theatre of operations has expanded beyond the north-east to other geo-political zones,” he said. 

“Thus, the manpower requirements of the Nigerian army have also increased to accommodate this attendant needs.

“That Nigerian army is implementing Nigerian army order of battle 2026 in phases has led to the expansion of the Nigerian army from five to eight divisions force structure.

“This, therefore, calls for a review of the current envelop budgeting system.

“The envelop system leads to inadequate funding of the Nigerian army for the performance of its constitutional duties.

“I hope this committee will passionately look into this to correct it.”

Yahaha asked the lawmakers to facilitate passage of the armed forces of Nigeria trust fund bill before the end of their tenure, adding that it will benefit army through improved funding.

In his remarks, Abdulrazak Namdas, chairman of the committee, said the army should put “enough boots” on the ground to prevent security threats in the nation’s capital.

“As we sit here and deliberate on this budget proposals, Abuja is under serious tension following a security alert issued in certain quarters suggesting that terrorists may launch a major attack on the city,” he said.