Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar has urged the House of Representatives to approve additional 50 Armored Personnel Carriers, APCs, in the 2025 budget to flush out bandits in the country.
Abubakar made the request yesterday when he appeared before he House Committee on Defence at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, to defend the 2025 budget of his ministry.
The minister noted that with the equipment, the fight against banditry would be over in two months.
According to him, “The Ministry of Defence is supposed to provide some equipment for some of the zones, but we cannot.
“Out of what we had in 2024, we were only able to provide just 20 Armored Personnel Carriers, but what can 20 APCs do?
“If we are able to have 50 APCs that can go into the bush to flush out those criminals. I assure you, within two months, we will finish the issue of banditry, but there is no provision for that in the 2025 budget.
“I believe this House will consider more funding for the Ministry of Defense, so that we can provide equipment to some fresh areas of attacks.”
The minister emphasised the need to review the budget of the ministry to also provide for the welfare of officers and men of the military.
He said N20 billion was required to address the backlog of the Group Life Insurance for military personnel.
Abubakar added that the ministry had not been able to pay some entitlements for military personnel in theaters of operations, urging the House to add more funding to the ministry.
In his remarks, Chairman of the committee, Benson Babajimi, who promised that the request would be considered by the committee, reaffirmed the commitment of the 10th House of Representatives to support the armed forces in their noble mission.
He said the House remains steadfast in its resolve to ensure a peaceful, secure and prosperous Nigeria.
According to him, the budget defense is, therefore, not just a legislative exercise, but a reaffirmation of our collective responsibility to the Nigerian people.
Babajimi said over the years, the Armed Forces of Nigeria had demonstrated remarkable commitment and professionalism.
According to him, they achieved significant progress in countering insurgency, terrorism, banditry and other forms of insecurity.
“The National Assembly has consistently prioritised the defense sector in the national budget, with increased allocations in recent years.
“However, with these enhanced resources comes heightened expectation for prudent, transparent and impactful utilisation.
“As representatives of the people, it is our duty to ensure that every naira is judiciously spent to strengthen the operational capacity of the armed forces and deliver tangible results.
“This year’s budget defense is particularly significant as it comes against the backdrop of evolving global and domestic security threats. These recent developments highlight the need for heightened vigilance and inter-agency collaboration.
“We must leverage intelligence, technology and best practices to neutralise emerging threats and safeguard our citizens,” he said.
The chairman urged all defense agencies to prioritise strategic initiatives that align with national security objectives.
