Seyi Law, the stand-up comedian, says the budget for the Nigerian military is “actually meagre compared to what is truly needed” to fight insurgency.
In a post via X on Sunday, the comedian disclosed that he is spending his Christmas holiday with soldiers in Maiduguri.
He said his time in the capital of Borno has exposed him to a lot of knowledge on the catastrophe of the prolonged insurgency battle in northern Nigeria.
The entertainer also prayed for God’s protection for “our men and women of the Nigeria Armed Forces as they fight to keep us safe”.
“I am spending my Christmas with our troops in Maiduguri, and my discussion with some top personnel is giving me some deep insights,” he wrote.
“A troop of 28,000 men and with a budget of N1,000 each for food daily, that is N28,000,000 and for a month (28 days) comes up to N784,000,000. Nigeria has over 223,000 active soldiers.
“We talked about MRAP vehicles, where 88 is supposed to be provided for each battalion. A unit costs about $300,000. You can do the maths.
“While we think the defence budget is huge, it is actually meagre compared to what is truly needed.
“One of the top personnel said, “The cost of chaos is cheap, but the battle to restore peace is too expensive.” The technology of military wares keeps evolving, and we are struggling to meet up.
“My eyes have been opened to a lot of knowledge. The catastrophe of the prolonged battle of insurgency is huge. Some of the rescued women and kids born in the camps know no other life apart from the trouble.
“May God continue to protect our men and women of the Nigeria Armed Forces as they fight to keep us safe.”
In a follow-up post, he wrote: “It has been such an eventful. I ended up in Bunigeri, Yobe State at the COAS’ Luncheon with the men in the frontline.
“This is one of my Christmas celebrations so far. I am happy to spend the day with these men who have given so much for this nation.
“On behalf of Nigerians, I say THANK YOU TO OUR GALLANT MEN.”
It has been such an eventful. I ended up in Bunigeri, Yobe State at the COAS’ Luncheon with the men in the frontline.
AdvertisementThis is one of my Christmas celebrations so far. I am happy to spend the day with these men who have given so much for this nation.
On behalf of Nigerians, I… pic.twitter.com/I29pSdlE6Z
— SEYILAW (@seyilaw1) December 25, 2023
In the proposed 2024 budget, the ministry of defence received an allocation of N78.5 billion for personnel and overhead costs.
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