Former Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.) has stated that the $1 billion approved for defence procurement during his tenure was released to the Ministry of Defence and never passed through his hands or the accounts of the Nigerian Army, Navy or Air Force.
Speaking on Monday at the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria conference in Abuja, Buratai described the long-standing allegations surrounding the fund as “political and malicious.”
He noted that the claims first surfaced during the 2019 election period when the opposition alleged the money had been diverted for electoral purposes—a charge the Federal Government publicly rejected at the time.
“The $1 billion was approved by the National Economic Council for defence procurement. Not a single dollar of that fund passed through my hands or through the accounts of the Nigerian Army, Navy, or Air Force. The funds were released to the Ministry of Defence, and the entire procurement process was handled by that ministry,” he said.
Buratai added that the Army, Navy and Air Force never received any portion of the fund to issue procurement directives.
He expressed regret that the controversy continued to damage the reputations of service chiefs rather than the institution that managed the money.
He also faulted the ministry for not publicly explaining how the funds were disbursed or how contracts were awarded, stressing that “accountability must be properly located.”
The retired general called for greater transparency in military procurement. He recommended the creation of a Defence Procurement Transparency Portal that would publish, within national security limits, broad details of contracts awarded, contracting entities and delivery timelines.
“When the media asks where the money went, the answer should come from the ministry that spent it, not from military officers who never touched it,” he said.
Buratai further proposed quarterly accountability bulletins summarising court-martial outcomes related to human rights violations and operational conduct, provided such publications did not compromise the rights of accused personnel or ongoing operations.
On allegations of human rights abuses by security forces, he maintained that credible claims must be investigated and, where proven, prosecuted.
“The military is not above the law,” he said, emphasising the need for disciplinary processes that are credible, transparent and capable of addressing allegations at all levels.
Improved communication by both the military and the Ministry of Defence, he added, would help address public concerns and ensure media reports reflect the full context of security operations.
Earlier, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris, represented by Voice of Nigeria Director-General Jibrin Ndace, said Nigeria’s security challenges cannot be solved by military force alone.
He called for better intelligence, modern technology and stronger collaboration among security agencies and communities.Idris noted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is prioritising the modernisation of the Armed Forces, intelligence-led operations and improved coordination.
He disclosed that the President had directed the preparation of a comprehensive National Threat Assessment and a rolling five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan.
Salary increases of between 30 and 80 per cent for Armed Forces personnel, approved for September 2026, were also highlighted as recognition of their sacrifices.
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