Buhari okays purchase of $1bn military equipment

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the purchase of military hardware worth $1billion for the use of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Buhari gave the approval on Wednesday during a meeting with the Minister of Defence, Brig-Gen Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd), and the service chiefs at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Dan-Ali disclosed this development to State House correspondents shortly after the meeting in which the President directed the security chiefs to intensify efforts at securing the release of Leah Sharibu, the Dapchi schoolgirl still being held by Boko Haram for allegedly refusing to renounce her faith.

According to him, the meeting also discussed security situations across the country and the steps being taken to mitigate them.

The minister further said that the money was the same approved by the state governors to be withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account to fight insurgency in the country.

Others at the meeting include the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Abayomi Olonisakin, and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai.

Also present at the meeting were the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris.