The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Army, Hon. Shawulu Kwewum has called for more funding for the military.
Speaking on a visit to the 14 Brigade Headquarters, Ohafia, Abia State, Kwewum said it has become necessary for the military to be have more funds because of the numerous tasks it undertakes, including the fight against insurgency, kidnapping, and child trafficking, among others.
He said, “We have a lot of security challenges across the country and you have seen the challenges and the efforts being made. There have been some improvements, but there is still a lot of work to be done. I’m sure that as we increase the funding for the military, they will be able to perform optimally. Today the military is actually performing the functions of the police because of the weaknesses that we have. The army traditionally is supposed to be facing external aggression; people trying to threaten the territorial integrity of the country. But now we have a situation where the army is involved in fighting kidnapping, cultism, oil bunkering, child trafficking and other crimes. So, their roles have increased but their funding hasn’t been increased. That’s the gap that we have.”
Hon. Uko Nkole, member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly and a member of the committee in whose domain the 14 Brigade Headquarters is situated said, “I am very happy that the committee has come to appraise the situation on the ground.
“The gaps have been noted and through appropriation, the committee will cure whatever that is the problem in the barracks. We have seen it and I’m very happy that the officers here are professionals in what they do. It is one thing to have officers and it is another thing to have officers that will conduct themselves in professional manners. I am proud of them and to say that the committee will do its possible best within our legislative frame work to do that.”
The Commander of 14 Brigade, Brigadier General Abubakar Ibrahim noted that the brigade has been active in tackling oil bunkering, kidnapping, armed robbery, farmers/herdsmen clash, activities of secessionist groups and other activities that would have caused a breach of the peace in Abia State and its environs.
Ibrahim using the opportunity of the visit to draw the attention of the committee to the areas of need of the command, listed inadequate lift capacity, accommodation, water supply, poor road network, epileptic power supply, inadequate medical facilities, among others, as some of the challenges facing the brigade.
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