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Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (retd.), denied having direct access to $1 billion in funds approved for defense procurement during his tenure, and insisted that the funds were managed by the Ministry of Defence.
Buratai made the clarification on Monday at a conference organized by the Defense Correspondents Association of Nigeria in Abuja, where he rejected allegations surrounding the money as politically motivated.
He explained that the National Economic Council approved funds for defense procurement but the money was not paid to him personally or channeled through the accounts of the Nigerian Army, Navy or Air Force.
“$1 billion worth of money was approved by the National Economic Council for defense procurement. Not a single dollar of the funds came into my hands or through the accounts of the Nigerian Army, Navy or Air Force. The funds were channeled to the Ministry of Defence, and the entire procurement process was handled by the ministry.
“The Army, Navy and Air Force have never received a single dollar from these funds to make procurement directives. I have described these allegations as political and malicious. These allegations first emerged during the 2019 election period, when the opposition alleged that the funds had been diverted for election purposes – a claim the Federal Government publicly denied. But the stain remains, attached to the Service Chiefs and not to the agencies that manage the funds,” Buratai stated.
The retired military chief said the Federal Government had publicly rejected the allegations when they first emerged during the 2019 election period. However, he regretted that the controversy continued to damage the reputations of military chiefs rather than focusing attention on the institutions responsible for managing the money.
He also criticized the Ministry of Defense for failing to provide public reports regarding the disbursement of funds and contracts awarded.
“The ministry itself has not explained openly how funds were disbursed or contracts were awarded. Accountability must be properly placed,” he said.
To increase public confidence in defense spending, Buratai advocated a more transparent procurement framework, including the creation of an online portal through which relevant contract information could be made available without compromising national security.
“The Ministry of Defense must have records of arms procurement. The $1 billion arms procurement controversy worsened because the agency managing the funds, the Ministry of Defence, remained silent while the Service Chiefs took the flak.
“I recommend a Defense Procurement Transparency Portal that publishes, within national security limits, the broad categories of contracts awarded, the entities performing the contracts, and delivery schedules. When the media asks where the funds are going, the answer should come from the ministries that spend them, not from military officers who never touch them,” he said.
Buratai further recommended a quarterly accountability bulletin detailing the outcome of military tribunal proceedings involving alleged human rights abuses and breaches of operational rules.
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He said such disclosures must be handled carefully to protect the rights of accused personnel and avoid disclosing sensitive information that could harm ongoing military operations.
Addressing concerns about human rights violations by Nigerian security personnel, the former military chief stated that credible allegations should be investigated and appropriate legal action taken if there is evidence to support them.
“I have always maintained that if there are credible allegations, they must be investigated and, if proven, prosecuted. The military is not above the law,” he said.
He acknowledged that the Armed Forces must demonstrate that their internal disciplinary mechanisms are trustworthy, transparent and capable of addressing abuses, regardless of the rank of those involved.
Buratai also called for improved communication between the military and the Ministry of Defense, arguing that timely explanations and adequate context would help the media report security operations more accurately and address public concerns.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said that addressing Nigeria’s security problems requires more than just military operations, and stressed the importance of intelligence gathering, modern technology and cooperation between security agencies and local communities.
Idris, who was represented by the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, Jibrin Ndace, noted that while military action remains essential, it must be accompanied by efforts to address the circumstances that allow criminal groups to recruit members and threaten the lives and livelihoods of citizens.
“The theme of this conference is very relevant because current security threats cannot be overcome with force alone. Military operations are still necessary, but must be supported by reliable intelligence, modern technology, effective coordination between security agencies and cooperation with the community,” he said.
The Minister said the New Hope Agenda promoted by President Bola Tinubu places national security as the country’s top development priority.
He added that the government is working on modernization of the Armed Forces, intelligence-based operations, increased surveillance and increased coordination between security and intelligence agencies.
Idris also revealed that Tinubu directed the preparation of a comprehensive National Threat Assessment and five-year Strategic Defense Operations Plan rolling out in August 2026 to set priorities, improve coordination and guide resource allocation.
“This is an important step towards a more coherent national response to growing threats,” said Idris.
The Minister further revealed that the President had approved salary increases ranging between 30 to 80 percent for Armed Forces personnel, effective in September 2026, and described the move as recognition of the sacrifices made by the military and other security personnel.
He emphasized that the impact of government security policies must be reflected in the everyday experiences of Nigerians, including safer communities and roads, adequate protection for farmers and businesses, and safe learning environments for school children.
Regarding media coverage of security issues, Idris urged journalists to prioritize accuracy, responsible verification and balanced reporting to prevent misinformation that causes panic or undermines military operations.
However, he emphasized that the need for responsible reporting should not prevent the media from carrying out surveillance on the government and security institutions.
“This does not mean shielding governments or security agencies from scrutiny. Journalists must continue to ask tough questions and hold institutions accountable, while respecting legitimate operational sensitivities,” he said.
