FG Allocates N65 Billion for Purchase of Weapons for Nigerian Military

Details in the 2016 budget have shown that the Federal Government has allocated N311.38 billion to the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force for the 2016 fiscal year.

An analysis of the allocated amount indicates that N65.03 billion will be used for the purchase of various military aircraft, combat equipment, trucks and maintenance of boats among others.

Out of the N311.38bn, the sum of N139.8bn, made up of capital expenditure of N120.01bn and recurrent expenditure of N19.78bn is allocated to the Nigerian Army.

For the Nigerian Navy, the sum of N85.97bn is allocated for its operations. This amount is made up of N60.33bn for recurrent expenditure and N25.64bn for capital spending.

The Nigerian Air Force has a total budget of N85.61bn, made up of N62.15bn for recurrent expenditure and N23.46bn for capital expenditure.

For the Nigerian Army, the budget document states that the sum of N5.64bn has been budgeted for the purchase of defence equipment; N2bn for kitting of armed forces personnel; and N1.96bn for the purchase of trucks.

Similarly, the sum of N2.07bn is being proposed for security votes including operations while N7.24bn has been budgeted for the construction of military barracks.

For the Navy, the budget document states that the purchase of defence equipment will gulp N18.29bn while the sum of N372.95m and N734.06m are budgeted for the maintenance of aircraft and sea boats respectively.

In the same vein, the document indicates that the government is planning to spend N1.7bn to purchase surveying equipment, N296.88m to fuel aircraft; N645.35m for sea boats and N706.07m for security votes, including operations.