Jonathan seeks $1bn loan to fight Boko Haram
JULY 16, 2014 BY JOHN AMEH, SUNDAY ABORISADE, OLALEKAN ADETAYO, ABUJA

President Goodluck
Jonathan on Wednesday
forwarded a letter to the
National Assembly,
asking the lawmakers to
urgently approve a $1bn
external loan for the
Federal Government to confront the terrorist Islamic sect, Boko
Haram.
The letter dated July 15, 2014, was read on the floor of the
Senate and that of the House of Representatives on
Wednesday, by the Senate President David Mark and Speaker
Aminu Tambuwal respectively.
In the letter, Jonathan explained that the external loan was
urgently needed to upgrade the equipment, training and
logistics of the Armed Forces and security services in order to
enable them to confront the insurgents more forcefully.
The letter titled, “Tackling Ongoing Security Challenges: Need
for Urgent Action”, read in part, “You are no doubt cognisant of
the ongoing and serious security challenges which the
nation is facing , as typified by the Boko Haram terrorist threat.
This is an issue that we have discussed at various times.
“I would like to bring to your attention the urgent need to
upgrade the equipment, training and logistics of our Armed
Forces and Security Services to enable them more forcefully to
confront this serious threat.
“For this reason, I seek the concurrence of the National
Assembly for external borrowing of not more than $1bn,
including government to government arrangements for this
upgrade.”
The National Assembly had in the N4.6tn 2014 Budget
provisions, appropriated N968.127bn for Defence on account
of the Boko Haram insurgency.
The request may be considered today (Thursday) on account
of its urgency because both chambers of the National
Assembly may embark on their annual long recess today till
the end of September 2014.
Also, speaking at the inauguration of the Theophilus Danjuma-
led Victims Support Fund Committee, the President said he
promised Nigerians that the government would be victorious in
the war against insurgency.
“We owe Nigerians nothing but victory over terror. The life of
every Nigerian is precious and we will continue to work round
the clock to put an end to this insurgency,” Jonathan said.
The President said the country was confronted with individuals
whose minds had been so twisted and tutored to believe they
were doing God a service by killing and maiming.
He said the inauguration of the support fund was to kick-start
the process of providing succour to the people who had been
directly affected one way or the other by acts of terrorism in
the country.
The President said, “The year 2009 appears to be a tragic
turning point. Boko Haram, an assemblage of heartless
individuals, took it upon itself to bring evil upon our country.
They have, in their mission, turned women to widows and
reduced children to orphans.
“They have killed and maimed and struck fear into law-abiding
citizens. They have destroyed villages, attacked property and
terminated people’s livelihoods without a care in the world.
They have engaged our security agencies in a meaningless
warfare that has wasted unimaginable human and material
resources.
“The reality today is that we are confronted with individuals
whose minds have been so twisted and tutored to believe they
are doing God a service.”
The President said those who have been victims of terror
needed comfort and succour.
He said, “We cannot replace the life of a child that has been
snuffed out. We cannot replace the lives of men and women
who have been killed. We cannot return broken limbs to their
original state. We cannot take away the trauma that people
have been put through.
“Their memories are scared, some for the rest of their lives,
over what they knew nothing about. The best we can do in this
circumstance is to offer them a shoulder to lean on and to
stretch out our hands of fellowship to them and tell them we
feel their pains and share in their sorrow.
“The Victim Support Fund Committee is part of our ongoing
efforts to provide a comprehensive solution to the menace.
This Government is determined to resolve this crisis.”
Also at the occasion, the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo
Dasuki (retd.), said Danjuma was not the first senior Nigerian
that would challenge the government on the insurgency,
saying some former Heads of State had told the President the
same thing.
Dasuki said the government was ready to draw the battle line.
“I assure Nigerians that we will win the war. But there are
some very hard choices that would have to be made. We have
so far been more concerned about the lives of a few versus
the condition of a few million. The decision has to be made
soon,” he said. Sauce: www.punchng.com/news/president-seeks-1bn-loan-to-fight-boko-haram/

Jona! Jona! Jona!............... Diaris Goduoooooooo

Now I blv this boko haram thing has political undertone and also a way the present govt wants to embezzle funds. This is the most corrupt administration we have had in a civilian rule in a short time

If that will end the very existence of boko haram and change this our country economic melt down no yawa

one billion doller? Is nigerian waging war against d world? These people re getting richer everyday.

kingofpool: If that will end the very existence of boko haram and change this our country economic melt down no yawa

your statement would have made much sense, if you didn't add 'IF'.......

ULSHERLAN: Now I blv this boko haram thing has political undertone and also a way the present govt wants to embezzle funds. This is the most corrupt administration we have had in a civilian rule in a short time

Bro, I tire oooo.......... If USD1bn is enough to fight BH....... How much will be enough to fight AL-Qaeda, ISIS and Al-Shabab