Nigerian troops were denied weapons to fight Boko Haram and thousands of lives were lost because of rampant fraud in the procurement process, President Muhammadu Buhari has alleged.
Buhari ordered anyone involved in corrupt multi-billion dollar deals for weapons and equipment to be “brought to book” after receiving a report from a committee set up to probe the issue.
“The findings made so far are extremely worrying considering that the interventions were granted within the same period that our troops fighting the insurgency in the northeast were in desperate need of platforms, military equipment and ammunition,” he said late Tuesday.
“Had the funds siphoned to these non-performing companies been properly used for the purpose they were meant for, thousands of needless Nigerian deaths would have been avoided.”
Buhari, a retired army general and former military ruler, came to power in May, vowing to crush the Islamist rebels whose insurgency has killed at least 17,000 people since 2009.
Front-line troops serving under his predecessor Goodluck Jonathan frequently complained the militants were better armed and they lacked the proper equipment, including bullets, to fight.
In one instance, some frustrated soldiers fired shots at their commander’s vehicle. They were court-martialed, found guilty of mutiny and sentenced to death.
The complaints came despite Nigeria having one of Africa’s biggest defence budgets.
Buhari, who has vowed to crack down on endemic corruption, set up a 13-member committee to probe arms procurement between 2007 and 2015 and spoke out after receiving its interim report.
According to the statement from his office late Tuesday, the investigation “unearthed several illicit and fraudulent financial transactions”.
Some $5.3 billion was provided to the Office of the National Security Advisor, Defence Headquarters and the headquarters of the army, navy and air force, the statement said.
“It was observed that in spite of this huge financial intervention, very little was expended to support defence procurement,” it added.
Some 53 of 513 contracts awarded were “failed contracts” and the former national security advisor Sambo Dasuki sanctioned huge payments without contractual evidence or explanations.
The statement alleged Dasuki “awarded fictitious and phantom contracts” totalling some $2 billion, supposedly to buy four Alpha (fighter) jets, 12 helicopters, bombs and ammunition.
Read more...
https://www.today.ng/news/national/39942/nigerian-troops-were-denied-guns-to-fight-boko-haram-buhari

Let the insults begin

We are watching....

He's lying

This idiot is still blaming Gej. Foolish man

Buhari is just sleeping over one man(Sambo Dasuki) while Boko Haram is bombing on daily basis.

Someone ask him which weapon he has procured since he took over power and what effect are we getting in return.

It is obvious. It was when the reality dawned on GEJ that he would lose that he started the real war on BH. That was why he postponed the elections by 6 wks.

staymore:
Buhari is just sleeping over one man(Sambo Dasuki) while Boko Haram is bombing on daily basis.

Someone ask him which weapon he has procured since he took over power and what effect are we getting in return.

steady steady, one step at a time. Buhari is not the messiah that we solve all our problem within 4 years but if he is going to solve one problem, let him solve it thoroughly!!

ernesty20:
This Great Man is blaming Gej, the Foolish man

Fixed.

To forgiv bh is God's,to send BH to God is Nigerian army's job.

Pls,jail anybody culpable

mazeltov:
steady steady, one step at a time. Buhari is not the messiah that we solve all our problem within 4 years but if he is going to solve one problem, let him solve it thoroughly!!

Are you aware of another bomb blast in Kano today? I think he should be more focused and proactive now than all these blame games.

Buhari now the problem is that there are no guns to fight Boko Haram?

Did they use bow and arrow to fight boko haram before the elections?

If so then give then bows and arrows

Any war against Boko Haram is a war against the North- Buhari

Liar!!!

palladin:



Fixed.

i will report u now

staymore:


Are you aware of another bomb blast in Kano today? I think he should be more focused and proactive now than all these blame games.

I fink he is carrying us along, this is no blame game at all. Without revealing and knowing the mystery behind that arms procurement, belive you me, there can't be any major victory against our common enemies

-+-+-+

mazeltov:
I fink he is carrying us along, this is no blame game at all. Without revealing and knowing the mystery behind that arms procurement, belive you me, there can't be any major victory against our common enemies

If you get what I meant, their were other NSA's before Sambo Dasuki that he is expending so much energy on.

Let him supply the guns now.

staymore:


If you get what I meant, their were other NSA's before Sambo Dasuki that he is expending so much energy on.

well, that depends on the coverage of their investigation

Buhari has completely loose focus!!!
he should accept that he has failed Nigerians expectations, rather all he does is to blame his predecessor for his failure to deliver his campaign promises.

Well, we all no this is a lie



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kimbo5c0Ak

But buhari,how can we reconcile this with your earlier "war against bokoharam is war against north"

But buhari,how can we reconcile this with your earlier statement "war against bokoharam is war against north"

Dasuki should not be allowed to travel and FG should charge to court for man slaughter.!!!

RevDesmondJuju:
Buhari now the problem is that there are no guns to fight Boko Haram?

Did they use bow and arrow to fight boko haram before the elections?

If so then give then bows and arrows