The Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Olufemi Oluyede, has lamented that the Nigerian Army has been making annual recruitment of approximately 15,000 personnel but there has been no sufficient accommodation support for them.
Oluyede, who voiced the concerns on Monday, also raised the alarm over the decreasing budget allocations for the Nigerian Army despite the growing number of recruits.
The Acting COAS raised the concerns during a condolence visit from the Senate Committee on Army, led by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua.
Oluyede expressed worry that, in the event of a reduction in insecurity, the Army might not have enough housing for its personnel.
“I need to reiterate that Nigeria belongs to all of us. Without your support, securing Nigeria will be very difficult.
“So I appeal to you, the eminent leaders of Nigeria, to support us in making our job easier so we can better secure the nation,” he said.
He added, “Over time, the resources allocated to the Nigerian Army have been steadily decreasing.
“This forum is a good opportunity to ask that, when considering next year’s budget, some critical issues be addressed regarding the Nigerian Army.
“For example, in recent years, we’ve been recruiting about 15,000 personnel annually, but not a single provision has been made for their accommodation.
“I often wonder, if we manage to resolve the security challenges, where will these soldiers retire to? It’s something that keeps me up at night.
“Therefore, I ask the National Assembly to consider these pressing concerns, along with other combat enablers, especially in the area of technology, so we can enhance our ability to secure Nigeria.”
