$1bn Arms Fund Went to Defence Ministry, Not Me, Says Ex-COAS Buratai

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), has said the $1 billion approved for military equipment procurement during his tenure was released to the Ministry of Defence, insisting that neither he nor the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force received the funds directly.

Buratai made the clarification on Monday at a conference organised by the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria in Abuja, where he addressed lingering allegations surrounding the disbursement of the money.

He said the National Economic Council approved the fund for defence procurement, but the Ministry of Defence handled the procurement process.

According to him, no portion of the money passed through his personal hands or the accounts of the three military services.

Buratai described allegations linking the funds to electoral activities as politically motivated, saying the controversy emerged during the 2019 election period when opposition figures alleged that the money had been diverted for political purposes.

He said the Federal Government had publicly refuted the allegation at the time, but the controversy continued to affect the reputations of military service chiefs.

The retired army chief criticised the absence of a detailed public explanation from the ministry on how the funds were disbursed and how procurement contracts were awarded.

He argued that accountability should rest with the institution responsible for managing the funds, rather than with military officers who did not directly control the money.

To improve public confidence in defence spending, Buratai proposed establishing a Defence Procurement Transparency Portal to publish broad details of contracts awarded, the companies involved and delivery timelines, subject to national security restrictions.

He also recommended quarterly accountability bulletins covering court-martial outcomes relating to human rights violations and operational conduct, provided the disclosures did not compromise the rights of accused personnel or ongoing military operations.

On allegations of human rights violations by security personnel, Buratai said credible claims should be investigated and prosecuted where substantiated. He maintained that the military should be subject to the law and demonstrate that its disciplinary processes were effective and transparent.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris, represented by the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, Jibrin Ndace, said Nigeria’s security challenges required more than military force.

He called for stronger intelligence gathering, modern technology, improved coordination among security agencies and greater cooperation with communities.

Idris also said the Federal Government was pursuing the modernisation of the Armed Forces and improved surveillance, while stressing that security interventions should translate into safer communities, protected livelihoods and improved public confidence.

He urged journalists to verify information and report security developments responsibly, while emphasising that responsible reporting should not prevent scrutiny of government institutions or security agencies.