N50b budget not enough, give us more to ‘address banditry in two months’, Matawalle tells lawmakers  

THE GUARDIAN

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Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has told lawmakers that the proposed N50 billion budget for the ministry in 2025 is grossly inadequate to address the country’s security challenges.

He noted that the current security situation in Nigeria required more funding and a more comprehensive approach.

This is as the House of Representatives Committee on Defence resolved to increase the budgetary provision of the Ministry of Defence to sustain the success being recorded in the fight against insecurity in the country.

The committee decided on the adoption of a motion by a member, Philip Agbese, who commended the military for their efforts. 

Matawale spoke, yesterday when he appeared before the committee to defend his ministry’s budget for 2025.

Matawale told the committee that the sum of N50 billion allocated for the ministry in the 2025 budget was inadequate and appealed for an upward review, assuring them that with adequate funding, the problem of banditry would be addressed in two months.

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