Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, has alleged that a whopping $1 billion meant for the purchase of arms to fight Boko Haram and other security challenges in the country, is missing.
In an interview the NSA granted to the BBC Hausa, Monguno, who is in a position to know national security decisions, said even though he wasn’t accusing the retired chiefs who have now become ambassadors of stealing the money, he, however, maintained that the money cannot be accounted for.
According to Monguno, the money was released to the military in 2018, three years ago, and both the money and the weapons can’t be accounted for.
President Muhammadu Buhari removed the service chiefs, including the Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok Ekwe Ibas and Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar. But reappointed them ambassadors.
A new set of security chiefs were appointed, including Lucky Irabor as the chief of defence staff; Ibrahim Attahiru, chief of army staff; Awwal Gambo, chief of naval staff; and Isiaka Amao, chief of air staff.
Monguno, in the BBC interview, said the new service chiefs did not meet the money approved for arms purchase nor the weapons to fight Boko Haram and other criminals holding the country to ransom.
“We don’t know where the money went to. The president has given out some money for equipment but they are yet to arrive,” he said.
“The president has done his best by ensuring that he released exorbitant funds for the procurement of weapons which are yet to be procured, they are not there. Now the president has employed new hands that might come with new ideas. I am not saying that those that have retired have stolen the funds, no. But the funds might have been used in other ways unknown to anybody at present.
“Mr President is going to investigate those funds. As we are talking with you at present, the state governors, the Governors Forum have started raising questions in that direction. $1 billion has been released, and that has been released, and nothing seem to be changing. So I assure you that the president will not take this lightly.
“The funds are nowhere to be found and the weapons have not been seen and the newly appointed service chiefs have declared that they have not seen the weapons. Maybe they are on the high seas, on their way coming from wherever they were purchased, from the US or Europe, but for now, there is nothing on the ground. I have not seen anything the service chiefs have also not seen anything,” Monguno said.
