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<\/a><\/p>\nTuraki A. Hassan<\/p>\n
19 December 2011<\/p>\n
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Abuja \u2014 The Federal Government’s jumbo budget for the Security sector is to be partly used to buy advanced weapons and security gadgets, including armour tanks, bomb detectors, cellphone tracking system, and arms and ammunition, according to details of the 2012 budget.<\/p>\n
President Jonathan last week unveiled the budget, in which the Security sector is allocated more than N920 billion, apparently in response to the rising security challenges around the country.<\/p>\n
The security budget figures, though without specifics, came under heavy criticism from lawmakers, who argue that the amount could not be justified since the nation is not at war.<\/p>\n
Now Daily Trust has documents detailing the specific allocations to all security formations and agencies, and can report that billions of naira have been budgeted to beef up the armoury of the Military, the Police, the State Security Service and the National Intelligence Agency.<\/p>\n
Under the budget of the SSS, procurement of arms and ammunition will gulp N5 billion, advance explosive detectors will be bought at N2 billion and another N2 billion is voted for forensic laboratory.<\/p>\n
Installation of anti-bomb blanket and bomb detector in North-East, North-West and North-Central will cost N1 billion; while procurement of communication and technical equipment will cost N1.2 billion.<\/p>\n
Also for the SSS, purchase operational vehicles is to cost N1billion; installation of cell phone tracking system interception, N1.3 billion; N5 billion is for acquisition of counter surveillance jammer; V-sat project, N1.675 billion; procurement of tactical interception system using vehicles, N1 billion; and satellite monitoring system, N1.5 billion.<\/p>\n
In the office of the National Security Adviser, N8.87 billion will be used to purchase satellite communication equipments in the FCT; N14.4 billion will go for data signal centre and equipment; N3.2 billion iridium communication platform; N2 billion will be gulped by 12 motorised direction finder jeeps to be stationed in the FCT; N150 million is for cyber security; and Presidential communication network will cost N2billion.<\/p>\n
The National Intelligence Agency (NIA), for its part, will spend N8 billion on purchase of security equipment; N1 billion on satellite intercept equipment; N1 billion is for 100 pieces of 5.7 by 28 P.90 Belgium assault rifles with 50 round magazine and extra magazines; and N1billion on installation of motorized gates at three locations in the headquarters complex.<\/p>\n
The Presidential Air Fleet is allocated N2 billion in 2012 from which N1.9 billion is for balance for the purchase of aircraft Hawker 4000XP.<\/p>\n
The Police formations and commands has a total allocation of N307.8 billion in the coming year out of which, N241 million is for purchase of explosive ordinance disposal equipment for anti-bomb squad; and N243 million is for anti-terrorism squad equipment.<\/p>\n
Also, N52 million is for purchase of BMW motor cycles configured to police specification including riders kits; N260 million is for security votes; N203 million will go for procurement of armored personnel carriers and armored patrol vans; N301 million will also be used to procure patrol vehicles with installed communication equipments and arms and ammunition will cost the government N431 million.<\/p>\n
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