The Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Magashi (rtd) on Tuesday said the Nigerian military is not treating the security advisory issued by the United States with kid gloves even though the Nigerian government expressed reservations about the manner the advisory was issued.
The Minister of Defence who appeared before the Committee on Defence to present his Ministry’s 2023 budget however faulted the U.S for disseminating such sensitive information directly to the public instead of sending it to the Ministry of Defence and Foreign Affairs.
He noted that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama is currently in talks with the U.S Ambassador on the reservations of the Nigerian government and the need to avoid future occurrences.
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Major General Magashi(rtd) who said “there’s no smoke without fire” called for prayers even as he called for extra vigilance.
He said the Federal Capital territory and its neighbouring states have been placed on red alerts.
On the Ministry’s budget, the Minister expressed concerned over lack of joint operations in the budget of the Ministry and that of other military formations.
Magashi said the situation has encouraged wastage and duplication of projects hence the need to bring the Ministry of Defence and the military under a single purse.
(Editor, Omor Bazuaye)
