The minister of state, Bello Mohammed has lamented the that poor budgetary allocation to the ministry if defence is inadequate in bringing an end to criminality in Nigeria.
“The Ministry of Defense is supposed to provide some equipment for some of the zones but we cannot, Out of what we have in 2024, we can be able to provide just 20 APCs, What 20 APCs can do? In Katsina alone, Mr Chairman, if we can be able to have 50 APCs that can go inside the bush to flush out those criminals, I assure you, within two months, we’ll finish the issue of banditry,” Matawalle told House of Representatives Committee on Defence, during the 2025 budget defence session held in Abuja.
He also urged the Committee to allocate an additional 20 billion naira for compensating families of deceased military personnel, emphasizing the need to improve the welfare and living conditions of military personnel across the country. He highlighted the challenges faced by the armed forces to include insufficient resources to adequately address pressing security issues. The minister stressed that enhanced support for military families would boost morale and strengthen the commitment of personnel on the frontlines.
But the minister expressed confidence that an increased supply of equipment and resources would significantly impact the fight against banditry. He suggested that with the proper tools and support, security operations in affected areas could yield substantial results within a short period. He reiterated the importance of equipping military personnel adequately to ensure their safety and effectiveness in the field.
He also pointed out that the Ministry of Defence had been unable to fulfill certain operational needs due to budgetary constraints. This has limited their ability to provide essential resources for various security zones, leaving some regions vulnerable to continued criminal activities. The minister appealed for urgent intervention to address these gaps and enable the military to perform its duties more efficiently.
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