Insecurity: FG’s huge security funding doesn’t reach frontline soldiers — Pantami

Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Prof. Isa Ali Pantami has alleged that despite the federal government’s substantial funding for security, only a small portion reaches soldiers on the battlefield.

He made this statement during the Young Professionals Colloquium in Katsina State while discussing the National Identification Number (NIN)-SIM linkage and issues contributing to insecurity.

Pantami said that the primary issue with Nigeria’s security challenges was not the lack of intelligence gathering but rather the failure to act on the intelligence that had been collected.

He stated that most of the federal government’s security budget remained with top officials, leaving very little for the soldiers facing the dangers on the frontline.

He pointed out that sending soldiers into battle without proper life insurance or adequate death benefits was demoralising to them.

Pantami said that soldiers knew their families’ futures might not be secure if they died in service, which discouraged them from fully committing to the fight against terrorists and kidnappers.

Pantami emphasized that Nigeria’s security challenges would persist unless the government established mechanisms to ensure that more security budget reached frontline soldiers and took care of their families.

He urged the government to put in place systems that “guarantee proper support for soldiers’ families if they lose their lives in the line of duty.”

He explained, “The government is spending huge amounts on security. Unfortunately, a very small percentage reaches our security officers on the battlefield. Most of it stays at the top. You ask a soldier to fight terrorists, but if he dies, his death benefit is less than 10 million naira, while he might have many children. Who can risk their life for that?”

Pantami called for a system where soldiers on the battlefield would receive proper compensation.

“If they die, the government takes responsibility for their families’ welfare, ensuring their children’s education or success in business.

“We must work on the system to ensure that what is budgeted reaches those on the battlefield. They should be the highest earners in Nigeria, and their families must be cared for if they sacrifice their lives for the country.”