We’re battle ready towards securing nation’s integrity ― Army

The Nigeria Army, on Tuesday declared that its battled ready towards securing the territorial integrity of the nation  from any violation as well as alerted  to rid the country of terrorists and other criminal groups.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Tukur Buratai who made the declaration in Abuja Yesterday during the 2017 budget defence before the House of Representatives Committee on Army, saying that there was no cause for alarm.

Buratai explained that in the past eight years, the country had been grappling with various security challenges that had continued to stretch the development of Nigeria Army assets.

According to the Army Chief, “currently, the Nigeria Army is deployed in about 32 states of the federation fighting to eradicate terrorism, cattle rustling, kidnapping, pipeline vandalism, armed banditry and communal clashes among others.”

“The challenges have in many instances necessitated the deployment of Quick Response Groups to troubled areas and establishment of new units in some cases.”

He however, expressed concern that the limited funds released to the Nigeria Army had continued to jeopardize welfare efforts with attendant dampening of personnel morale.

While giving the breakdown of the 2016 budget to the Committee, Buratai said that the percentage performance of Nigeria Army budget was 100 per cent.

He disclosed that in the proposed 2017 budget, the allocation to the Nigeria Army was N152. 843billion out of which01 per cent was for personnel Emolument while 39.39 per cent was for overhead capital budget respectively.

Buratai impressed it upon the Committee that the timely and complete implementation of 2017 budget would enhance the fulfillment of the Army its mandate.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon Kwewum Shawulu, recalled that in 2016, following the advocacy embarked upon by his committee, the National Assembly added N10 billion to the allocation of the Nigeria Army.

He said though it was a far cry from what was actually needed, it demonstrated the importance  National Assembly attached to the Nigeria Army and services of defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria.