Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd.), National Security Adviser, has clarified the misconception that he alleged that $1bn funds for buying arms and ammunition to tackle terrorism during the tenure of past service chiefs were missing. According to him, “we would like to state that the NSA was quoted out of context as he did not categorically say that funds meant for arms procurement were missing under the former service chiefs as reported or transcribed by some media outlets from the BBC interview.
“During the interview, the National Security Adviser only reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to deal decisively with insecurity and stated President Muhammadu Buhari’s continued commitment to providing all necessary support to the armed forces, including the provision of arms and equipment.”
We should remember that Monguno had told the Hausa Service of British Broadcasting Corporation that “the President has done his best by approving huge sums of money for the purchase of weapons, but the weapons were not bought, they are not here. Now, he has appointed new service chiefs, hopefully, they will devise some ways.
“I’m not saying the former service chiefs diverted the money, but the money is missing. We don’t know how, and nobody knows for now. I believe Mr. President will investigate where the money went.”