By Nkechi Eze
The Nigerian Senate has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Nigerian Army and the executive arm of government to ensure the military receives the necessary support to maintain peace, stability, and national security across the country.
This assurance was made on Thursday, July 31, 2025, during an oversight visit to the Army Headquarters in Abuja by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, who led other members of the committee to assess the implementation of key military projects and programmes.
According to a statement signed by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, the visit formed part of the committee’s statutory oversight responsibilities to monitor the performance of the 2023 and 2024 Appropriation Acts as they relate to the Nigerian Army. The committee, she stated, was particularly focused on ensuring the effective utilization of public funds and tracking the execution of capital projects captured in the national budgets.
Senator Yar’Adua, in his remarks, commended the Nigerian Army for the cooperation extended to the committee during its nationwide assessment tour of military formations. He noted that the visits had produced encouraging outcomes, granting lawmakers direct insight into the operational capabilities, infrastructural developments, and challenges confronting the Army.
“We are here to evaluate how appropriated funds are being utilized and to ascertain the implementation of projects captured in the budgets,” he said. “So far, we are satisfied with the level of discipline and transparency shown by the Nigerian Army in executing its mandate.”
The Senator also expressed deep appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritizing national security in his administration’s agenda, pledging that the Senate would remain steadfast in supporting the military’s constitutional responsibilities to protect the territorial integrity of the nation.
Responding to the committee, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, expressed profound gratitude to President Tinubu for what he described as “uncommon support” to the Armed Forces of Nigeria. He also lauded the Senate Committee on Army for its sustained oversight, advocacy, and legislative backing in recent years.
General Oluyede used the opportunity to highlight the sacrifices made daily by Nigerian Army personnel in safeguarding lives and property across the country. He noted that despite notable improvements in operational capacity, the Army continues to grapple with critical challenges particularly in operational logistics, troop welfare, and accommodation deficits.
“To meet our growing security obligations and ensure better performance, there is a pressing need for increased budgetary allocation to the Nigerian Army,” the COAS stated. He further appealed to the lawmakers to consider removing the Nigerian Army from the envelope budgeting system to allow for more flexibility in addressing the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of defence expenditures.
The COAS emphasized that the Army’s ability to respond swiftly and effectively to emerging threats depends largely on adequate and timely resource allocation, improved infrastructure for troops, and continuous investment in equipment and intelligence-gathering capabilities.
