Investigative Committee To Probe Nigerian Defence Purchases

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the formation of a 13-man committee to probe the procurement of weapons by the military in the last eight years.

President Buhari has asked the national security advisor to form the investigative committee, an official statement from the president’s office said.

Nigeria is to probe the procurement of hardware by the military since 2007, after reports of irregularities in military purchases emerged in the country’s media.

"It comes against the background of the myriad of challenges that the Nigerian armed forces have faced in the course of on-going counter-insurgency operations in the northeast, including the apparent deficit in military platforms with its attendant negative effects of troops' morale," said a statement signed by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina.

The Nigerian military has been accused of non-adherence to correct equipment procurement procedures which often resulted in the acquisition of sub-standard equipment for its armed forces.

The presidential directive said mandate has been given to the probe panel to identify irregularities and make recommendations for streamlining the procurement process in the Nigerian military.