Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), has said the $1bn approved for defence procurement during his tenure was released to the Ministry of Defence and did not pass through his hands or the accounts of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Buratai stated this on Monday at the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria conference in Abuja, describing allegations of diversion of the funds as “political and malicious.”
He said the controversy emerged during the 2019 election period, when opposition figures alleged that the money had been diverted for electoral purposes.
According to him, the Ministry of Defence handled the procurement process, while the Army, Navy and Air Force did not directly receive any portion of the funds.
Buratai faulted the ministry for failing to publicly explain how the funds were disbursed and contracts awarded, arguing that accountability should rest with the institution responsible for managing the money.
He called for the establishment of a Defence Procurement Transparency Portal to publish details of contracts, contracting entities and delivery timelines, subject to national security considerations.
The retired army chief also proposed quarterly accountability bulletins on court-martial outcomes involving human rights violations and operational conduct, provided they did not compromise the rights of accused personnel or ongoing military operations.
On alleged human rights abuses by security personnel, Buratai said credible allegations should be investigated and, where substantiated, prosecuted.
“The military is not above the law,” he said, stressing the need for credible and transparent disciplinary processes.
Speaking at the conference, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said Nigeria’s security challenges required more than military force, calling for improved intelligence, modern technology and stronger collaboration among security agencies and local communities.
Idris, represented by the Director General of the Voice of Nigeria, Jibrin Ndace, said military operations must be complemented by measures to address the conditions that enable criminal groups to recruit members and threaten citizens.
He said President Bola Tinubu’s administration was pursuing the modernisation of the Armed Forces, intelligence-led operations and improved surveillance.
The minister also disclosed that Tinubu directed the preparation of a comprehensive National Threat Assessment and a rolling five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan in August 2026.
According to Idris, the President approved salary increases of between 30 and 80 per cent for Armed Forces personnel, effective September 2026.
He urged journalists to verify information and report security developments responsibly, while maintaining scrutiny of government institutions and security agencies.
Idris said responsible reporting should not shield public institutions from accountability but should respect legitimate operational sensitivitie