Minister of State for Defence Calls for Increased Budget and Modern Equipment to Tackle Banditry
The Honourable Minister of State for Defence, H.E. Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, MON, has called for greater collaboration and a significant increase in funding for the Ministry of Defence to combat banditry and other forms of criminal activity plaguing the nation.
Speaking during the presentation of the Ministry’s 2025 Budget Proposal to the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Defence at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Thursday, 16th January 2024, Minister Matawalle highlighted the need for enhanced support from both legislative bodies to tackle the growing security challenges.
In his address, the Minister stressed that while the commitment of the House and Senate Committees on Defence has been instrumental in the Ministry’s achievements, the current budget allocation remains inadequate to meet the demands of modern security threats. “With the right equipment, we can significantly reduce the threat posed by banditry,” Matawalle stated, adding that insufficient funding had hindered the Ministry’s ability to procure vital security resources, including Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), which are essential in tackling insecurity.
In 2024, the Ministry was only able to acquire a limited number of APCs, but the Minister emphasized that more are needed to ensure swift and effective responses to security breaches in various regions. He called on the legislative committees to consider increasing the budget allocation for the Ministry, so that additional security resources could be provided to areas facing fresh attacks from criminal elements.
Matawalle also expressed his appreciation to the leadership of the Defence Committees, thanking them for their continuous support in advancing the Ministry’s goals and the broader security agenda. He acknowledged that the success of President’s Renewed Hope Agenda on Security hinges on strong collaboration and adequate funding for the Ministry of Defence.
In response, the leadership of the committees assured the Minister of their ongoing commitment to working closely with the Ministry to strengthen the nation’s security framework and ensure the effective implementation of the President’s security initiatives.
The Minister was accompanied by Ambassador Gabriel Tanimu Aduda, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, and other senior officials of the Ministry during the presentation.
This call for increased funding and collaboration reflects the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to enhance the security apparatus in the face of mounting challenges from criminal elements across the country.
