TheCable

The senate on Thursday approved the request of President Goodluck Jonathan to access an external loan of $1 billion to boost the war against insurgency.

Jonathan had written to the upper legislative chamber on July 15 appealing that the request be considered in light of the fact that the military needs to be better-equipped to contain the Boko Haram sect.

The approval followed the consideration of the report of the joint committees on finance, and local and foreign debts on the loan request at plenary in Abuja.

Chairman of the committee on finance, Sen. Ahmad Makarfi (PDP-Kaduna), who presented the report, said the facility was not a cash loan but supply of military hardware to be paid over seven years.

He said in view of the urgent need to restore normalcy in the country and since the loan did not attract interest, Nigeria should take advantage of the opportunity.

According to him, the requested loan was for helicopters, ships, armament and hardware.

“The 12 nos. M135 Helicopters being requested for now are appropriate for the nature of the operation and the terrain.

“Belarus has accepted to give helicopters on the condition of installment payment over a seven-year period.

“Other hardware, armament and equipment will be bought on the same terms from other European countries,” he said.

Makarfi further said the joint committee discovered in its findings that the number of helicopters in the fleet of the Nigeria Air Force was inadequate for effective deployment.

He said the reason for inadequate helicopters was due to inadequate funds for maintenance and recent burning of two helicopters by insurgents in Maiduguri.

He further said that no new helicopter had been added to the fleet since 1998.

Rowdy session

NAN reports that the senate, however, went into a rowdy session prior to the approval as the lawmakers were divided over the matter.

While some lawmakers applauded the effort of the joint committee and moved for immediate approval of the loan in view of the security challenges, others raised concerns about the legality of the approval.

Sen. Olubunmi Adetumbi (APC-Ekiti), quoting the Appropriation Act and the constitution, argued that approving the loan without following laid down procedures had consequences.

“This request to the best of our ability and with the assistance of the constitution, has consequences for the existing Appropriation Act,” he said.

“We do not question the right of Mr President to ask for money but there is a process that needs to be followed,” he said.

In the same vein, Sen. George Akume (APC-Benue) called for appropriate procedures to be followed by the senate.

“Nobody is against the fight against insurgency. My concern is that the appropriate thing should be done,” he said.

Senate President David Mark, however, doused tension by explaining that the senate was not flouting any legal or constitutional provision as the borrowing was not in cash to attract any further procedure before approval.

“I will suggest that we go ahead and approve this without raising any issues that will have any security implications.

“This is my appeal on this matter,” he said.

APC had described the request as an avenue for “massive corruption” and urged the lawmakers to scrutinise it.

Though the request was perceived to have suffered some setback when the senate went on recess shortly after it was received, the senate gave a hint that it would be granted when it reconvened in September.

Senator Ita Enang, the chairman, senate committee on rules and business, had told reporters that the request was a top priority and would be urgently treated.

However, the senate approved the request, citing the issue of insecurity as one of its reason for taking the decision.

Government had earlier estimated N968.127 billion for defence in the 2014 budget.

Recent advances against Boko Haram have raised hopes that the country may soon contain the insurgency.