Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, on Monday lamented that the resources being allocated for Nigerian Army operations are dwindling despite the rising number of personnel being recruited annually.
General Oluyede told members of the Senate Committee on Army led by Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua who paid him a condolence visit on the death of late Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, that at least, 15,000 personnel were being recruited into the Service every year without additional support from any quarter regarding accommodation for soldiers and officers as they secure the nation.
The Army Chief told the Senate Committee at Army headquarters, Abuja that “it’s important for me to reiterate that Nigeria belongs to all of us, and without your support, it would be very difficult for us to secure Nigeria.
“So, I want to really appeal to you, very eminent personality of Nigeria, to just please support us and make our job very easy so that we can help secure Nigeria as much as possible.
“Over time, we’ve had situations where the resources that are attributed to the Nigerian Army keeps dwindling. So I think this is a very good forum for me to appeal that maybe in considering next year’s budget, a few very important issues should be noted.
“First, the Nigerian Army, for instance, in the last couple of years, we’ve been recruiting about 15,000 personnel. But I can tell you that not a single support has been given in terms of the accommodation.”
General Oluyede wondered how the soldiers and officers would live and where such personnel would stay by the time the war against insecurity in the country is won and they are deployed back to the barracks.
Earlier, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Senator Yar’Adua charged the Acting COAS to continue with the legacy of the late Army Chief, General Taoreed Lagbaja.
He said the Senate had a robust relationship with Lagbaja whom he described as a “very practical officer” and very knowledgeable of military Operations, adding that he was “very honest” and “says it as it is.”
The Committee chairman stated that late COAS led the Army and improved security of the country significantly, while assuring the Acting COAS of same courtesy and support for him to continue with the legacy.
He further urged the Army to deploy technology in the fight against terrorists.