… Loan Is Despite N968.127 billion 2014 Defence Budget
BEVERLY HILLS, CA, July 16, (THEWILL) – President Goodluck Jonathan Wednesday sent a letter to the Senate and the House of Representatives seeking approval to secure a loan of $1 billion (about N165 billion) to fight the Boko Haram.
The letter dated July 15, 2014, and addressed to the Senate President, Senator David Mark and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, was read to federal lawmakers at today’s plenary.
THEWILL recalls that the National Assembly had already approved N968.127billion for the Ministry of Defence for the same purpose in the 2014 budget. Defence topped budget expenditure for 2014.
In the letter, President Jonathan said the loan will be used upgrade military equipment, training and logistics of the armed forces and security services to enable them forcefully confront the serious threats of terrorism in Nigeria.
“Tackling ongoing security challenges for urgent action”, the president said “You are no doubt cognizant of the on-going serious security challenges which the nation is facing as typified by the Boko Haram terrorists 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 confront this serious threat.
“For this reason, I seek the concurrence of the National Assembly for external borrowing of not more than $1 billion dollars including Government to Government arrangements for this upgrade,” the President wrote.
The letter was however silent on the source of the loan.
The Boko Haram, a terrorist group that has killed more than 10, 000 persons since 2009 is responsible for several deadly attacks including the bombing of the United Nations building in Abuja and the headquarters of the police force in Abuja.
SAINT MUGAGA, AND EMMA UCHE, ABUJA.
