Service chiefs say funds, equipment hampering operations against Boko Haram

The leadership of the senate and chairmen of committees on security on Wednesday held a meeting with heads of the military to review developments in the fight against insurgency in the northeast.

According to Yusuph Olaniyonu, special adviser (media) to the senate president, the closed-door meeting lasted two hours and was presided over by Senate President Bukola Saraki.

“Several issues tailored at further empowering the security agencies to win the war against the Boko Haram insurgency were discussed in a frank and open exchange between the two sides,” he said.

“The military chiefs, led by General Abayomi Olonishakin, the chief of defence staff, briefed the senators on the various challenges faced by the military, particularly the state of their equipment, which they said require serious upgrading and restocking.

“They also complained that their vote in the 2015 supplementary budget had not been released, thereby hampering their ability to fund their operations. Other issues that came up for discussion were the need to continuously increase the personnel in the three branches of the military and the hindrance posed by the procurement process, which they said is very slow.

“The military chiefs also canvassed the need for the review of some laws governing their operations, so as to make them able to respond to emergency situations they now confront in the northeast zones,, as well as conform with global best practices.

“The need for regional support for the fight against insurgency in the northeast by the neighbouring countries, resettlement of Internally displaced persons (IDPs) back to their traditional homes, the issue of intelligence gathering and sharing among the various agencies and mobilisation of the international community, particularly through inter-parliamentary efforts in support of the fight against terrorism in Nigeria, were also discussed.

“The senators assured the military chiefs that they would fast-track the request for the review of the relevant laws being complained about by putting them on the priority bills list once they are given adequate information on areas that need to be amended.

“They also promised to take up the issue of release of funds raised by the military chiefs with the ministry of finance immediately. The committees on defence, finance and appropriations have also been mandated to ensure that the issues raised by the service chiefs are taken care of in the budget.

“The senators noted that at this point when the nation had recorded serious gains in the fight against insurgency, all hands should be on deck to sustain the tempo against the violent groups.”

Olaniyonu said that the meeting was attended by Saraki; his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu; senate leader, Ali Ndume; majority whip, Francis Alimikhena; chairman, senate committee on Navy, Isa Hama Misau; and his colleague in the committee on air force, Duro Faseyi”

However, he added that chairman of senate committee on defence, senator Ahmed Lawan, was absent.”

“The chief of defence staff, General Olonishakin led the chief of army staff, Gen Tukur Buratai, his colleague in the navy, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas and the air force, air marshal Sadiq Abubakar to the meeting,” he said.