The Federal Government yesterday refuted claims that it recently spent about $11 million to transport 24 Mine Resistant Armour Protected (MRAP) vehicles donated to the Nigerian Armed Forces by the United States(US).
Minister of Defence, retired Brig-. Gen. Muhammad Dan-Ali
The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, debunked the speculation on Tuesday, January 12, in Lagos at the commissioning of some Nigerian Air Force (NAF) projects as well as the inspection of the MRAP vehicles.
He said the vehicles never cost the federal government a whooping $11 million to transport into the country.
The minister who commissioned the 201 HAG Flight Line offices and crew room, 445 NAF hospital laboratory and power sub-station, Airmen transit quarters, the gymnasium and MRAP vehicles said: “It is not true that the Nigerian government was responsible for the transportation.
"The transportation cost the US Government $11 million and not the Nigerian government.” The Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin who also spoke on insurgency said the military had degraded Boko Haram.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar re-echoed President Buhari’s commitment towards addressing various security challenges across the country with a view to fast-track Nigeria’s socio-economic development.