Presidency Reveals How Buhari Will Spend $1bn Insurgency Fund

The Presidency said on Friday that the $1 billion insurgency fund approved by President Muhammadu Buhari will touch on every aspect of security in the country.

Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, said this while he appeared as a guest on Channels Television Breakfast Programme, Sunrise Daily.

“There is police and there is also the military. It’s going to touch on every aspect of security in the country,” he said.

“We are not talking about buying footwear or uniforms which is routine. We’ll re-equip the military that has depleted much of its stock fighting criminality, insurgency and terrorism across the country.

“We need this money to restock. The Nigerian Army, the Police, they ought to have arms that they can use in situations where they are needed. It’s not as if we have no idea of what to do with this money, it is also true there is still some finishing jobs to be done to Boko Haram.

“There is a lot of attention that needs to be paid to the police, violence in the central sections of Nigeria, challenges in the Delta, the Navy and all of these. There’s a lot to be done with this money.”

Shehu was reacting to the section of Nigerians who faulted the President’s decision to approve the fund.

Recall that Mr Buhari had on Wednesday approved the fund during national security council meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The approval was greeted with mixed reactions, with some urging Nigerians to resist it.

But speaking today, Shehu said there was nothing controversial about the approval, adding that the critics are just ‘blowing hot air.’

“I think a lot of the judgements are hasty. After the Federal Executive Council approval, ministers will go to the President, they will seek approval of the President of the council, the council will approve and then say go to the National Assembly

“The process has begun, it’s not concluded, therefore, everyone will be involved. The President will not breach the constitution of this country. Approval at that level is granted, there is nothing controversial.

“The Attorney-General will bring a draft bill to FEC, the president will approve and then say take it to the National Assembly. The draft budget before it got to the National Assembly, the FEC signed and approved it. I think the people are just blowing hot air.”

“This is a country that is at war with the insurgency, although technically defeated but the challenges are enormous. 34 of the 36 states have military being deployed to them. People will say when you’ve defeated Boko Haram why do you need funds but if you check around, all over the world, the countries do most spending in peacetime,” Shehu said.