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COUNTDOWN TO MAY 29… 2 DAYS TO GO Defence budget declines in four years by N171.47b, says report...

                                                                                                                                                        

DESPITE lingering insurgency in three northern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe and security challenges in at least 30 states, the defence vote has maintained a steady decline under the President Goodluck Jonathan administartion since 2011.
Out of N445.309 billion allocated  to the Defence Ministry in the past five years, about N273.831 billion was actually released as capital and recurrent expenditures.
It was learnt that about N171.478 billion, though earmarked, was not released to the ministry, which also has an outstanding liability of N26, 830,532,161.24,including N2,618,509,462.05 and $20,962.96 incurred on capital and overhead expenditures and N24,212,022,699.19 excess commitment on Peace Support operations.
The decline in capital and recurrent allocations to defence has been clearly highlighted in a report presented to the Federal Government Transition Committee, headed by Vice President Namadi Sambo.
President Goodluck Jonathan will officially make the report available to the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari tomorrow in Abuja.
The breakdown of the report shows that the Federal Government budgeted N445.309 billion for the Ministry of Defence between 2011 and 2015. According to the report, capital vote has N213.122 billion and overhead (N232.187 billion).
Only N110.916 billion was released out of the N213.122 billion capital votes and N162.915 billion out of the N232.187 billion recurrent budget was released.
The report reads in part: “There has been consistent decline in both capital and overhead allocations to the defence sector in the past five years (2011-2015) as shown in the table below. In spite of the limited funds, the responsibilities of both the ministry and its agencies are increasing on a daily basis. Mostly with the level of insecurity arising from insurgency in the Northeast, Niger Delta and other flash points.
“Follow the inadequacy of regular funding for Peace Support Operations (PSOs), N35,000,000,000.00 (thirty five billion naira only) Bond was raised at 9.75 per cent per annum in 2008 to equip Nigerian troops engaged in various United Nations (UN) missions.
“The equipment procured was delivered at the Nigerian Arm Ordinance Depot, Lagos, for onward deployment to mission areas under the supervision of the Defence Headquarters. However, it should be noted that Contingent Owned Equipment (COE) attracts reimbursements from the United Nations Peace-keeping which account is domiciled with CBN UN Account General of the Federation and utilised for the repayment of the Bond. So far, the sum of N27.3 billion has been repaid for the loan taken.
“However, following a request by the ministry to Mr. President for the transfer of control/management of the Armed Forces Peace Keeping reimbursement account from Nigeria Permanent Mission in the UN to the Defence Section in New York from where the funds will be remitted into the MOD account, the request was graciously approved and it is expected that with the transfer, funds would be easily accessed and utilized more judiciously for the maintenance and upgrade of the equipment.
“The repayment schedule due to non-regular remittance of funds from the Defence Section in New York to the ministry, which therefore affected the loan payment which hitherto was to be fully paid in June, 2015 but will now be paid on a quarterly sum of N1, 284,122,196.23  with effect from 30th June, 2015 to 30th September, 2017
“The ministry has an outstanding liability of N26, 830,532,161.24 and $20,962.96. This is made up of N2,618,509,462.05 and $20,962.96 incurred on capital and overhead expenditures and excess commitment of N24,212,022,699.19 on Peace Support operations (i.e. N11,370,800,729.85 for UNAMID  and N1,246,102,623.11 for Guinea Bissau) and DMO debt of N12,841,221,969.34.”
The report claimed that the Nigerian troops are currently engaged in more than five major operations in almost all the states of the federation and 10 external operations.
The external operations are in Liberia, Darfur, Guinea Bissau, Mali, South Sudan, Cote D’Ivoire, Western Sahara, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon and Sierra Leone.
It added: “The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has continued to maintain a high operational tempo, making significant and positive contributions to internal security, regional as well as International Peace Support Operations. The joint operations as well as single Service operations are highlighted below.
“The AFN is currently engaged in Internal Security Operation in virtually all the States of the Federation with troops deployed in operation such as the Multination Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation PULO SHILED  and Special Task Force (STF) Operation SAFE HAVEN.
“ The MNJTF is a tripartite operation involving Nigeria, Chad and Niger Republic. It was established as Operation FLUSHOUT 1 to flush out Chadian and Nigerien rebels who operated in the Lake Chad region before September 1998.
“The Task Force is currently charged with the responsibilities to contain cross border banditry and criminal activities resulting from the presence of these rebels around the international border of Chad, Nigeria and Niger.
“A JTF operation launched in June 2011 metamorphosed into OP BOYONA following the declaration of State of Emergency by the President, C-in-C (Commander-in-Chief to curb Boko Haram insurgency in the NE. However, with the establishment of 7 Division, Op BOYONA was transferred to the Nigerian Army, though the Defence Headquarters is supporting the operation with logistics and personnel from other Services. The operation was renamed Op ZAMAN LAFIYA in 2014;
“The STF Operation SAFE HAVEN  commenced on 21 January 2010 following the crises that engulfed Jos Metropolis on 17 January 2010 and later spread to the other Local Government Areas (LGAs). It was tasked with the maintenance of law and order and protection of law abiding citizens within Plateau and some parts of Bauchi States.
“It has remained effective in curbing the violence between the local farmers and the Fulani herdsmen in Plateau State;
“ JTF Operation RESTORE HOPE  which was established to patrol Bayelsa and Delta States was merged with Operation FLUSHOUT III operating in Rivers State in January 2011 to become Op PULO SHIELD.
“The mandate of Op PULO SHIELD is to curb oil theft in the Niger Delta area among other criminal activities. The JTF’S mandate and AOR has been expanded to cover 9 states in the South-East and South-South regions of the country.
“ Kidnapping and militancy are some of the criminal acts prevalent in the southern part of the country. While the Federal Government Amnesty Programme was successful in combating the militancy challenge to a great extent, kidnapping still persisted, especially in Abia State.
“In response to this challenge, Op JUBILEE was established in October, 2010. Headquarters 82 Division under whose Area of Responsibilities the operation fell was tasked to arrest kidnapping and other forms of criminal activities, which has then grounded all forms of socio-economic activities in the South East part of the country.”
The report gave analysis of the nation’s contribution to global security and participation in peace-keeping missions.
It added: “One of the foreign policy objectives of Nigeria is to contribute to global security and project Nigeria’s prestige in the international community. In line with this, since 1999, all of the AFN’s major deployments abroad have been UN mandated Peace Support Operations (PSOs). Nigerian troops’ deployments to ongoing PSOs include UNMIL (Liberia), UNAMID (Sudan), ECOMIB (Guinea Bissau) and MINUSMA (Mali). There are also Nigerian military personnel deployed as Military Observers/Staff Officers in other UN Missions.
“At present, there are 2,833 troops all ranks deployed in Liberia, Sudan, Mali, and Guinea Bissau as well as 137 Military Observes (MILOBs)/ Staff Officers (SOs) deployed in various UN AND REGIONAL PSOs.
“The details of Nigeria troops deployed to some missions will be discussed briefly as follows:
• Nigeria has a total of 1,403 formed troops and 26 MILOBs/SOs currently deployed in UN Mission in Liberia. The formed troops are apart of the 2 remaining Nigerian Battalions (NIBATTs) after the repatriation of the Nigerian Contingent Sector HQ in July 2014. The DHQ is making efforts to induct 16 additional Armoured Personnel Carriers and other requirement into the mission to meet UN standards;
•Nigeria has 970 troops, comprising 939 formed troops and 31 MILOBs/SOs currently deployed in United Nations Mission in Darfur after the repatriation of two NIBATTs in July 2014. The formed troops consist of one NIBATT of 819 personnel all ranks, a LEVEL II Hospital of 96 personnel all ranks and 2 x Sig Detachment of 12 personnel each (24 all ranks);
• Nigeria has a reinforced infantry company of 185 personnel all ranks that was inducted on 29 November 2012 into the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea Bissau. The rotation of NIGCOY 1 with NIGCOY 2 was successfully completed in December 2013.
• Following the fusion of African–led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA) into the Multi–Dimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission (MINUSMA) in Mali in July 2013, Nigeria currently has 188 personnel all ranks deployed in Mali. The strength comprises 170 formed troops 18 military personnel deployed as MILOB s/SOs. The formed troops are the Signal Company (NISIG Coy) and the Level II Hospital deployed in MINUSMA.

“Nigeria has 62 military personnel also deployed to other mission areas as MILOBs/SOs. These missions are those in South Sudan, Cote D’ Ivoire, Western Sahara, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon and Sierra Leone. The Nigerian Military personnel deployed in various mission have so far been performing their tasks of assisting the affected Governments to restore normalcy in the various countries satisfactorily.”