The presidency yesterday explained how the $1billion withdrawn from
the Excess Crude Account (ECA) for the procurement of sundry hardware
for the nation’s military was spent. The withdrawal was authorised by
the National Economic Council (NEC).
The explanation came barely 24 hours after the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) charged President Muhammadu Buhari to explain to Nigerians
how the $1 billion allegedly disappeared from the ECA.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola
Ologbondiyan, the PDP drew the attention of Nigerians to “the shocking
confession by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Babagana Mongunu
(rtd) that he was not aware of the whereabouts or disbursement of the
$1billion drawn from the ECA by the Buhari presidency in 2017 for
security purposes.”
The party said the confession by the NSA, who coordinates the
security architecture of the nation, directly placed a huge burden on
President Buhari’s doorsteps over reported stealing and diversion of
funds meant for security, while insurgency, banditry, killings and
kidnapping festered in the land on his watch.
But reacting to the allegations in a statement made available to The
Guardian by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu
yesterday, the presidency said various procurements had been made for
the purchase of critical equipment for the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian
Navy and the Air Force, contrary to the allegation by the PDP.
The presidency said: “The record we have is that the Buhari
administration paid $496,374,470 for a dozen Super Tucano fighter
aircraft for the Air Force in a direct, government-to-government (no
contractors or commission agents) transaction with the government of the
United States of America. They are due for delivery in 2020.
“Various other military procurements for critical equipment have been
made. These are for the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Navy, amounting
to $380,513,958,71. These procurements include money for the purchase of
Navy Lynx helicopters.
“Total amount spent so far is $876,888,428.71. The equipment paid for
have due dates of delivery of between six months to two years. Balance
of the money that is unspent as at today is $123,111,571.29.
“The entire expenditure involved in these exercises is on the basis
of government-to-government procurement. In cases where the Nigerian
government dealt with equipment manufacturers, their home governments
have in all cases given guarantees to the Federal Government.
“Again, it is important to stress that no contractors or commission
agents have been involved in the procurements under discussion.”
According to the presidency, the money was domiciled in the Central
Bank of Nigeria, and to date, “not a single dollar of it has been
transferred to the Ministry of Defence or any other ministry, agency of
government, individuals or political party office as was the norm under
the PDP administration.”
The presidency lamented that the PDP made so much of a report claiming that the NSA declared the entire amount as missing.
“The NSA will not have said this. Without approval of end-user
certification as issued by his office, no arms can lawfully enter
Nigeria.
“The PDP spent defence procurement funds on their failed 2015
political campaigns as proven in court. That is not to say that every
succeeding government, more so one led by a Buhari, will do the same,”
the presidency said.
The PDP deferred comment as Ologbondiyan told The Guardian when
contacted: “Don’t mind them, we will react formally and appropriately
tomorrow.”
When pressed further to speak on APC’s comment that the NSA wouldn’t
have said what the opposition claimed in its statement, he said: “Allow
our initial statement to sink first in the minds of Nigerians and we
will follow it up with some other revelations.”
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