Emmanuel advocates adequate funding of army for optimal performance

The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has proposed improved funding of the Nigerian Army to enable her acquire the necessary resources and training of her officers and men for optimal performance, especially now that their roles in internal security have been expanded.

The governor made the proposal yesterday during the 12th Nigerian Army Finance Corps Biennial Training Conference with the theme, “Expanding Roles of the Nigerian Army in Internal Security Operations: Funding Imperative,” at the Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort, Uyo.

The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport, Mr. Akan Okon, reiterated that the core mandate of Nigerian Armed Forces is to defend the country’s territorial integrity against external attack.

Emmanuel, who noted that the role of the Nigerian Army in the internal security had been expanded enormously, hence the need for adequate funding, said: “Government cannot effectively meet the demands of the military. Security is the business of all and so, it should be a concern for all.”

He suggested that private sectors should be brought in to support government’s effort because “security is also considered as public goals that can fully be provided with the co-operation and contributions of the beneficiaries.”

The governor, while thanking officers and men of the Nigerian Army for their selfless service to the nation and also acknowledging the sacrifices of the families of the fallen heroes, expressed optimism that at the end of the conference, a roadmap towards creating a platform for Nigerian business organisation to contribute willfully to support the Armed Forces would have been in place.

He commended the army for their role in curbing insurgency, kidnapping, banditry and other security challenges confronting the nation.

Also in his welcome address, the Chief of Account and Budget (Army), Maj.-Gen. Adekola Bakare, said that the theme was deliberately chosen to enunciate the challenges posed by inadequate funding of the army operations in spite its expanding roles in internal security.

Bakare said that the conference would afford participants the opportunity to conduct a detailed appraisal of the current policies and procedures towards repositioning the Corps to provide transparent and efficient services to the Nigerian Army.