President Buhari has orders NSA to set-up panel to probe weapon procurement since 2007

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and
Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Monday, said President
Muhammadu Buhari has directed the National Security
Adviser to convene an investigative committee on the
procurement of hardware and munitions in the Armed
Forces from 2007 till date.

In a statement by the presidential spokesman, the
investigative committee’s mandate is to identify
irregularities and make recommendations for streamlining
the procurement process in the Armed Forces.

Sequel to this directive, the National Security Adviser is
said to have constituted the Investigative Committee to be
headed by AVM J.O.N. as President, and Brig Gen
Y.I. Shalangwa (rtd.) as Secretary.
Other members include R/Adm J.A.

Aikhomu (rtd.), R/
Adm E. Ogbor (rtd.), Brig Gen L. Adekagun (rtd.), Brig
Gen M. Aminu-Kano (rtd.), Brig Gen N. Rimtip
(rtd.), Cdre T.D. Ikol, Air Cdre U.

Mohammed
(rtd.), Air Cdre I. Shafi’i, Col A.A. Ariyibi, Gp Capt
C.A. Oriaku (rtd.) and Mr. Ibrahim Magu (EFCC).

The presidential statement added that “The establishment of
the investigative committee is in keeping with President
Buhari’s determination to stamp out corruption and
irregularities in Nigeria’s public service. It comes against
the background of the myriad of challenges that the
Nigerian Armed Forces have faced in the course of
ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast,
including the apparent deficit in military platforms with its
attendant negative effects of troops’ morale.

“The committee will specifically investigate allegations of
non-adherence to correct equipment procurement
procedures and the exclusion of relevant logistics branches
from arms procurement under past administrations, which,
very often resulted in the acquisition of sub-standard and
unserviceable equipment.”