FG to spend N44.64bn on military equipment, arms, ammunition

A total of N44.64bn  has been earmarked in the 2022 Appropriation Bill  for military equipment, arms and ammunition.

According to the breakdown of the bill presented to the National Assembly by the President Muhammadu Buhari last week, the Ministry of Defence  will purchase defence equipment for N 218,041, 734;  the procurement of arms , ammunition and military equipment by the Defence  Headquarters is put at N250,000,000,  N230,000,000  and N244,000,000 respectively.

The Nigerian Army will spend N241,172,260 on construction,provision of defence equipment while the Nigerian Navy earmarked N6,892,413,452 to purchase defence equipment and 9,405,000,000 for construction/provision of defence equipment.

Also, the Nigerian Air Force  according to the breakdown will purchase defence equipment for N25,657,742,046 and procurement of various small arms and ammunition to cost N1,500,000,000.

Besides this, the Nigerian Army also proposed N2,061,903,814 for the rehabilitation / repairs of defence equipment. The Nigerian Air Force  also budgeted N7,371,813,303 for  the same project.

Also, in the proposed bill, the  DHQ  will procure military kits for  N448,000,000 and utility vehicles for N340,000,000. Under miscellaneous details of the appropriation bill revealed that the DHQ will  spend  N4,499,797 while Corps members kitting , transport and feeding allowance  N8,000,000 and  N15,060,565 earmarked for sporting activities.

Other projects listed for the Nigerian Army include construction/provision of military barracks for N6,827,304,223, the rehabilitation / repairs of  military/defence barracks for  N6,509,782,567, and the construction / provision of roads for N161,089,054 among others.

The Nigerian Navy other projects include the establishment of NN Special Operations Command (TO Incorporate SBS, Special Forces, EOD and Diving Unit) for  N3,250,000,000, construction of NNS SOROH Permanent site for 800,000,000, procurement OF Landing Ship Tank for N792,413,452, the construction of 2 X 16 X 2 bedroom accommodations and 2 X 24 X 1 bedroom accommodation for junior ratings at  N2,200,000,000  and the relocation of NNCETT and CIT schools to Ile-Ife, Osun state at N1,018,955,599 among others.

On it part, the Nigerian Air Force budgeted 2,617,375,701 for the rehabilitation/repairs of military/defence barracks, N 3,500,000,000 for procurement of various aircraft spares;  1,000,000,000 for procurement of troop carrier and other operational vehicles; N 2,000,000,000 for the construction of offices and accommodation in various commands; N1,000,000,000 for procurement of uniforms and accoutrement  and upgrade and rehabilitation of existing barracks infrastructure by direct labour at N 1,867,375,701.

Source: Punchng