Muhammad Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defense, has reportedly asked the House of Representatives Committee on Defense to set aside an extra 20 billion naira to compensate the families of fallen military members, according to Vanguard. Matawalle made this proposal on behalf of Defense Minister Mohammed Badaru during the 2025 budget defense discussion in Abuja.
Matawalle emphasized the need to improve the welfare and living conditions of military personnel across the country. He highlighted the challenges faced by the armed forces, including insufficient resources to adequately address pressing security issues. The minister stressed that enhanced support for military families would boost morale and strengthen the commitment of personnel on the frontlines.
During his address, Matawalle outlined the limitations faced in equipping the military, citing the procurement of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) as an example. According to him, the current budget for 2024 only allowed for the acquisition of 20 APCs, a number he deemed inadequate for combating the security threats in some regions of the country. He noted that Katsina State alone would require at least 50 APCs to effectively tackle the activities of armed criminals.
The minister expressed confidence that an increased supply of equipment and resources would significantly impact the fight against banditry. He suggested that with the proper tools and support, security operations in affected areas could yield substantial results within a short period. He reiterated the importance of equipping military personnel adequately to ensure their safety and effectiveness in the field.
Matawalle also pointed out that the Ministry of Defence had been unable to fulfill certain operational needs due to budgetary constraints. This has limited their ability to provide essential resources for various security zones, leaving some regions vulnerable to continued criminal activities. The minister appealed for urgent intervention to address these gaps and enable the military to perform its duties more efficiently.
He said: “The Ministry of Defense is supposed to provide some equipment for some of the zones but we cannot, Out of what we have in 2024, we can be able to provide just 20 APCs, What 20 APCs can do? In Katsina alone, Mr Chairman, if we can be able to have 50 APCs that can go inside the bush to flush out those criminals, I assure you, within two months, we’ll finish the issue of banditry.