Gbajabiamila: Nigeria is at war — the military needs more funding

Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, says the military needs more funding because Nigeria is at war.

Speaking on Monday at a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish a special trust fund for the armed forces, Gbajabiamila said insecurity has made extra funding for the military necessary.

The speaker said tackling insecurity in the country requires various remedies, adding that there is a need for the military to be better equipped through the bill.

“Even with these extensive and wider examination of our security challenges; we cannot exclude the need for and benefit of a well-equipped and better trained military in the fight against all forms of insecurity,” he said.

“It is a historic fact that countries during war times do not fund their military through regular appropriation alone. From the USA, to the United Kingdom and all Western powers; their military was funded through extra budgetary means during periods of war.

“Nigeria is at war against insurgency, terrorism, kidnapping and all manners of insecurity; hence the need to uplift the resources available to our armed services to enable them procure the best tools to help win this war. So, what we seek to do in this bill is not new or unique to us as a nation.

“The solution to our security challenges requires asymmetric actions across many policy areas. This is what we have tried to do as the representatives of the people. The concept of a trust fund already exists for the Nigerian police.

“It only makes sense to also bolster our military capability as well through this unique vehicle. In this bill; the board of the trust fund is full of eminent Nigerians from all walks of life, this should give confidence to all of the depth of knowledge and experience that will be available to manage this fund. The national assembly will equally play its part in over-sighting the work of this trust fund.”