Army seeks special funding as 13,000 recruits face accommodation shortfall

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has called for increased financial support for the Nigerian Army, warning that over 13,000 incoming recruits may be left without accommodation due to budgetary constraints.

Speaking during an oversight visit by the Senate Committee on Army to the Army Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, Oluyede expressed concern over the limitations of the current envelope budgeting system, which he said fails to meet the Army’s growing operational and personnel needs.

“This year alone, we are expecting about 13,000 new personnel, but there are no corresponding resources to provide accommodation for them,” he said. “We still have soldiers without proper housing, and the number is increasing.”

Oluyede urged the lawmakers to consider special funding outside the envelope budgeting structure to ensure the Army can maintain readiness and enhance soldiers’ welfare. He emphasized the need for foresight, noting that the military must be prepared not only for internal security threats but also for possible external aggression.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, acknowledged the funding challenges facing the military and pledged the committee’s support for improved budgetary allocation. He reiterated the need to remove the Army from the envelope budgeting framework to allow more flexibility in funding.

Yar’Adua revealed that members of the committee had visited military formations across Borno, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Lagos states to inspect the status of ongoing projects. He said while progress had been made in many areas, some issues had been flagged for follow-up with Army leadership.

“We want to assure the Chief of Army Staff of our continued support and collaboration with the executive to ensure the Army is adequately funded,” he added.

The senator also noted that another round of oversight visits is planned before the end of the year to assess how the 2025 budget is being implemented.