The acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Olufemi Oluyede, has called for increased budgetary allocation to the Nigerian Army to enhance its ability to secure the nation and address pressing accommodation challenges.
Oluyede made the appeal during a condolence visit by the Senate Committee on Army, led by Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, on Monday in Abuja.
Highlighting the army’s recruitment of about 15,000 personnel annually, he expressed concern over the lack of sufficient housing for soldiers. He warned that the challenge could worsen when the current security situation stabilises, and troops return to barracks.
He lamented the dwindling resources allocated to the army over time and urged the Senate committee to prioritise critical issues like accommodation in next year’s budget.
Oluyede stated, “It is important for me to reiterate that Nigeria belongs to all of us and without your support, it would be very difficult for us to secure Nigeria. I want to really appeal to you, very eminent personality of Nigeria, to just please support us and make our job very easy so that we can help secure Nigeria as much as possible.
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“Well, over time, we have had situations where the resources that are attributed to the Nigerian army keep dwindling. I think this is a very good forum for me to appeal that maybe, in considering next year’s budget, a few very important issues should be noted.
“For instance, in the last couple of years, we’ve been recruiting about 15,000 personnel but I can tell you that not a single support has been given in terms of the accommodation,” he added.
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