‘Army needs adequate weapons to perform’

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Army, Rimande Shawulu, has said the nation must provide its army with the “right mix of weapons” at the right time” in order for it to achieve its constitutional mandates.
Speaking yesterday while declaring open the two-day 2nd Nigerian Army “Procurement Awareness Seminar” at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja, Shawulu said Nigerian Army requires also requires the right weapons at the right quality to curtail various security challenges confronting the country.
The lawmaker, who was the special guest at the occasion, however, noted that logistics requirement of the security agencies were numerous and expensive, which might not be easy to meet due to the current economic reality in the country.
“It, therefore, becomes imperative that the Nigerian Army sets its priority rights and develop an efficient and effective procurement process in accordance with extant regulations to maximise the use of lean resources,” he said.
The lawmaker said the 8th National Assembly had in the last budget sessions increased the budgetary allocations to the Armed Forces, to empower them to operate “optimally.
” He said whether those funds were released or not “is entirely another matter.
” Shawulu, however , said one of the major challenges the National Assembly “faces in the efforts to improve funding for the military is the reoccurring issue of transparency and accountability.
” “No doubt, the army, and indeed the armed forces have been in the eye of the storm with regards to the allegations, confessions and investigations by the anti-corruption agencies.
“These allegations and accusations have continued to hamper the efforts to open new windows of funding.
” He commended the army for the seminar, noting that it was one of the ways of reassuring the public that “all is well with whatever funds are allocated and released to the security agencies.
” Earlier, in his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff , Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the operational capability of the army largely depended on the availability of requisite hardware, highly trained personnel and other essential resources.
Buratai said the in the last few years, the army had taken steps to emplace policies at enhancing its procurement plans and processes to meet its constitutional duties.
“This seminar, therefore, provides a veritable platform for us to familiarize and educate ourselves sufficiently on procurement matters that would enable the Nigerian Army compete successfully in the opportunities that arise from the implementation of the national budget,” he said.
The first procurement seminar was held in August, 2017.
The theme of the 2nd seminar was “Optimising the Operational Capabilities of the Nigerian Army through an Effective Procurement System.”