We Lack Adequate Resources To Provide Accommodation For Our Soldiers – COAS Oluyede Cries Out

Sunnex Egbu

3 weeks ago

The Chief of Army Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has lamented the inability of the Nigerian Army to provide adequate accommodation for its personnel.

Oluyede disclosed that at the moment, the Army is expecting 13,000 new personnel but lacks corresponding resources to provide accommodation for them.

Apart from the new recruits, he noted that some soldiers also lack accommodation and the number will continue to increase.

Naijaonpoint understands the COAS made the submission on Thursday in Abuja during a visit by the Senate committee on the army to the army headquarters.

He therefore appealed to the lawmakers to consider how funds can be made available to provide accommodation for the soldiers even as they focus on the fight against insecurity.

He commended the committee for supporting the military but noted that current funding mechanisms, particularly the envelope budgeting system, are inadequate to meet the army’s needs.

“As we speak, the army is still challenged in terms of operational efficiency. This year alone, we are expecting about 13,000 new personnel, but there are no corresponding resources to provide accommodation for them.

“We still have soldiers not being accommodated, and that number will continue to grow.

“We are not only looking at maybe insecurity within, but what if someday we are challenged from outside?

“So, I want to pray that you please look at that, and at the same time, look at how we can get special funds to provide accommodation for our soldiers. It’s very critical,” the Army chief said.

Responding, the chairman of the Senate committee, Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, acknowledged the challenges being faced by the Army due to inadequate funding and promised that the committee would continue to advocate for improved budgetary allocations.

“The Nigerian Army and Armed Forces should be removed from the envelope budgeting system so they have more funds to carry out their mandate. We’ve seen the need during our oversight visits.

“We want to assure the Chief of Army Staff of our continued support and collaboration with the executive to ensure the army is adequately funded,” Yar’Adua said.