The senator representing Kaduna Central senatorial district in the National Assembly, Sen. Shehu Sani, has given reasons why President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of $1 billion to purchase security equipment may not yield desired fruits.
Sani gave the reasons in a reaction he posted on his Facebook page on Wednesday afternoon.
Speaking to journalists after Wednesday’s security meeting chaired by Buhari, Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali said, “Of recent, our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari gave approval for the purchase of more equipment for the military, worth $1 billion.
“As usual, we discussed the current activities that affected most of the states in the federation like Taraba, Zamfara and other states.”
But reacting, Sani said the president’s aims for approving the security equipment purchase fund may not be realised if the welfare of soldiers and their families is not prioritised.
He equally urged the Federal Government to strive towards achieving self sufficiency in arms production instead of enriching arms dealers abroad.
Sani said, “A Billion dollar to purchase arms will not make sense if we don’t factor the welfare and wellbeing of the officers and soldiers fighting the war.A special fund for the injured,the orphans and widows of our fallen soldiers need also to be factored in.A weapon cannot fight a war without the men to use it.
“We also need to remind ourselves that our Defence Industry is moribund, before we enrich arms manufacturers in other nations. Our self sufficiency should not be about rice alone.”
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