The Buhari administration has pumped more funds into finding solutions to the mounting security problems facing the country, but things only seem to get much worse.
While Nigerians believe enough funding has been made at least, enough to improve the security situation in the country, the Nigerian Senate believes the military is still underfunded.
According to Senate President Ahmad Lawan, the failure of the Nigerian military to effectively address the nation's security woes is down to poor funding, not incompetence as alleged by frustrated Nigerians.
Speaking on Thursday in an executive session with the Service Chiefs and heads of security agencies in the country, Lawan assure the Service Chiefs of the cooperation of the parliament, but urged them not to relent in combating insurgency and banditry, as he noted that the scary security situation was a disincentive to both local and foreign investors.
He said: “You recall our resolution to invite them for a briefing on the security situation in our dear country, on behalf of all of us senators, I want to welcome this team and let me quickly assure you that indeed this senate or the entire National Assembly is and will remain a partner in progress with you.
“On behalf of my colleagues, I want to commend our armed forces and other security agencies for fighting the myriad of security challenges across the country.
“In the process, some have given up their lives. We appreciate what you are doing because we know that you are doing your best with what you have at hand.
“I want to assure you and everyone that the challenges we face are taken seriously and extremely by the parliament.
“Hardly a day passes without this senate discussing one security incident or the other. And it has been so for many years, not only this session.
“Once again, I welcome you and trust us with what you think will help us as a parliament to help the cause of Armed Forces and other security agencies to perform better because you haven’t achieved the optimum and I can attribute that to inadequate resources.
“We pray that at the end of this interaction, we will see better ways and means of providing the necessary resources to enable our Armed Forces to continue with national case to provide national security that we need to protect the lives and property of citizens to stabilise our environment for the economy to receive better investments for this country; to be a hub for investments that will provide employment opportunities to our teeming youths. Thank you very much.”