It has been revealed in a statement that contrary to public perception, not all funds disbursed from the office of the National Security Adviser, are meant for arms procurement.
Embattled former NSA, Sambo Dasuki
A statement on Thursday by PRNigeria, an agency which distributes press statements for organisations and individuals in Nigeria, has said that contrary to public perception, not all funds disbursed from the office of the National Securty Adviser, were meant for arms procurement.
The agency denied that former NSA, Sambo Dasuki implicated some past governors and officials of the Peoples Democratic Party. It also said "not all funds in Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) are related to arm procurement as being alleged."
The statement reads;
"The office of the National Security Adviser manages several funds for national security and other special interventions which are not related to Boko Haram or arm procurement.
They include recurrent expenditures and miscellaneous expenses under Special Service Office (SSO) to fund special projects and programmes, including capacity building, refreshment, travelling, office maintenance, crisis communication and supports to special causes and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Most of the figures being bandied were taken from the special funds meant for the purposes that they were spent and not on the so-called arms deal.
All over the world, there are lots of expenditures of national security and sensitive matters that are not ridiculed in the press," the agency said.
A new report has also revealed that the presidential investigations committee into arms procurement under the Goodluck Jonathan administration disclosed in its interim report that it found extra-budgetary spending by the Jonathan administration to the tune of N643.8 billion and an additional $2.2 billion in the foreign currency component.
It can be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC), is presently investigating how over $2.1 billion meant for the procurement of arms and ammunition for Nigerian armed forces were allegedly diverted for political and other purposes.