… Says it’s aimed at discrediting and discouraging international support
BY ODILI CHRISTEL
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said that sweeping allegations been made by Transparency International against the Military are based on
lies and should be disregarded.
The Director Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche made this known during a press briefing with journalists today at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
Enenche said that the allegations were false and therefore, should be disregarded by Nigerians and the international community.
While addressing the allegation of lack of transparency in military contract awards, he noted the DHQ, Army, Nigerian Navy (NN), Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Headquarters had established procurement branches that were guided by the rules and regulations of the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP).
He said even the Ministry of Defence was dealing directly with states and governments on Defence equipment procurement without using contractors or vendors any longer.
According to him, “On this note, it is suspicious that a sweeping statement of corruption against the military officials at this time is rather disheartening.
“More so, that the Nigerian Military was on March 22 credited by the United States of America (USA) as having done very well for fighting insurgency and extremism, among others.
“Such an allegation came at the peak of consistent success being recorded in our areas of operational engagements, especially in the North-East,’’ Enenche said.
The director of Defence information explained further that the military operations in the North-East was very obvious not only to Nigerians, but the whole world, hence the allegation must be treated with utmost suspicion.
“The DHQ is therefore, assuring the general public that there is no calculated, deliberate or institutionalized corruption in any form within its system.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria remained focus and committed to providing security to lives and property and totally loyal and subordinated to the Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’’ he said.
He said the present leadership of the Armed Forces had done a lot to training to boost troop’s morale and procure vital equipment through due process for operations against insurgents in the North-East and other operations.