2023 budget: FG plans N1.35tn war chest against B’Haram, bandits

The Federal Government has allocated N1.35 trillion to fund the ongoing anti-insurgency war in the country, as the fight against insecurity continues.Infomation Guide Nigeria

This was included in the N20.51tn 2023 budget plan that President Major General Muhammadu Buhari (ret.) presented to the National Assembly on Friday.

The PUNCH discovered on Sunday that the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces had been allotted more than N1.248 trillion to fight Boko Haram, bandits, and other anti-insurgency campaigns in the 2023 Appropriation Bill.

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Out of this amount, labour expenses would consume almost N1 trillion; overhead costs will consume N90,961 billion; and capital expenditures will consume N156,294 billion.

The Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, and Nigerian Navy will receive N638.1b, N174.4b, and N158.7b, respectively, of the total amount allocated to 18 military and defence agencies. The three forces received the largest portion of the record-breaking military budget.

The Nigerian Army has a budget of N638.1 billion, of which N581 billion is budgeted for personnel wages, N24.6 billion for overhead, and N32.3 billion for capital.

The Nigerian Air Force budgeted N108.3 billion for personnel costs, N15.4 billion for administrative expenses, and N50.6 billion for capital projects.

The Nigerian Navy would spend N113.7 billion on people, N19.7 billion on overhead, and N25.3 billion on capital.

The Defence Headquarters has a N84.7bn budget, of which N80.08bn is allocated to staff, N2.1bn to overhead, and N2.4bn to capital expenditures.

The Ministry of Defense headquarters was given N32. 7 billion, which included N15.052 billion for staff costs, N2.2 billion for overhead costs, and N15.4 billion for capital expenditures.

Arms and ammunition are prominent among the Nigerian Army’s capital projects, including the procurement of three Magnus MF 212 surveillance attack aircraft for N2.7 billion and three Bell UH 1D helicopters for N3.082 billion.

The Nigerian Air Force, which is also acquiring arms and ammunition, allocated N2,099,016,682 for ‘balance payment for procurement of two AW109 Trekker helicopters; N1,257,600,000 for ‘balance payment for periodic depot maintenance of three L-39ZA aircraft; and N27,302,804,065 for ‘additional payment for procurement of six T-129 attack helicopters.

Additionally, the NAF intends to refurbish six Larzac engines on its Alpha Jet aircraft inventory at a cost of N346,273,055.

For N9,163,226,200, the Nigerian Navy will acquire Ocea3X32 rapid patrol boats, six special forces boats, six RHIBs, three fuel cleaning stations, and four years of integrated logistical support.

In the meantime, the Ministry of Defence wants to spend N7 million on a new project named “Provision of Tablets (10) to Press Officers for 24 Hour News Monitoring, News Gathering, and Information Dissemination to Media Houses, FGN, etc.” Additionally, the quarterly production of the MOD bulletin will cost N20 million.

The ‘Safe School Intervention’ would cost N2.2 billion in 2023, while the ministry expects to spend N9,501,070 on ‘Freedom of Information’

Buhari remarked before the National Assembly during the budget presentation event that the government remained “firmly committed” to the protection of life, property, and investments throughout the country.

The President emphasised that defence and internal security will continue to get “top priority” in 2023. The ongoing efforts to adequately equip and inspire the heroic members of the Armed Forces, police, and paramilitary groups will continue, he stressed.

He said, “I assure you, insecurity, especially banditry and kidnapping, will be significantly curtailed before the end of this administration. We will redouble our efforts to ensure we leave a legacy of a peaceful, prosperous and secure nation.”

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