The National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd) has denied saying funds meant for the procurement of arms were missing under the ex-service chiefs.
He said, “We don’t know where the money went to. The president has given out some money for equipment but they are yet to arrive,
“The president has done his best by ensuring that he released exorbitant funds for the procurement of weapons which are yet to be procured, they are not there. Now the president has employed new hands that might come with new ideas. I am not saying that those that have retired have stolen the funds, no. But the funds might have been used in other ways unknown to anybody at present.” Monguno was quoted to have told BBC Hausa.
But reacting to the report, the NSA said he was quoted out of context.
Monguno said he only talked about Buhari’s continued commitment to provide all necessary support to the Armed Forces, including the provision of arms and equipment.
This was continued in a statement issued by the office of the National Security Adviser, today.
The statement read in part, “The attention of the Office of the National Security Adviser has been drawn to some media reports regarding Armed Forces equipment during an interview with the BBC Hausa service.
“We would like to State that the NSA was quoted out of context as he did not categorically say that funds meant for arms procurement were missing under the Former Service Chiefs as reported or transcribed by some media outlets from the BBC interview.
” During the interview, the National Security Adviser only reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to deal decisively with insecurity and stated President Buhari’s continued commitment to provide all necessary support to the Armed Forces, including the provision of arms and equipment.”
