…Fund meant for President’s re-election –Fayose
President
Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the release of $1 billion for the
procurement of security equipment to fight Boko Haram insurgency in the
North-east.
This is even as he has ordered efforts to
be intensified to secure the safe release of Leah Sharibu, the Dapchi
schoolgirl still being held by Boko Haram because she refused to
renounce Christianity.
Governors from Nigeria’s 36 states had in
December 2017 approved the withdrawal of $1 billion from the Excess
Crude Account (ECA) by the Federal Government to be used in the ongoing
fight against Boko Haram insurgents in the North-east.
But the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose,
had distanced himself from the request and subsequently dragged the
Federal Government to court over the matter.
The approval for the withdrawal was given at the 83rd National Executive Council (NEC) chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Briefing State House Correspondents at
the end of the meeting, the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, said
the meeting was to review the security situation in the country.
According to him, “this is a normal
meeting of security agencies in the country. As usual, we discussed the
current activities that affected most of the states in the federation
like Taraba, Zamfara and other states.”
On what to expect after the deployment in
Zamfara, Dan-Ali said, “well, as usual, we have operationalised a
Division in Sokoto; there will be a Brigade in Katsina and another
Brigade in Zamfara that will take care of security situation in that
area.”
On how that will resolve the issue, the
Minister said, “of course, the strength of security personnel has
increased including the Air Force’s additional quick response group.
They have added enough manpower in that area.”
On Leah Sharibu’s release, Dan-Ali said, “we are making every effort to see that the girl is returned safely.”
The Minister also said that the President
has approved the release of $1 billion for the procurement of security
equipment to fight insecurity in the country.
“What I can add, after all that I have
said, is to inform you that of recent, our leader, President Muhammadu
Buhari, gave approval for the purchase of more equipment for the
military, worth $1 billion.”
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