$1bn ECA Subsidize Not For Battling Boko Haram Alone, FG Renounces

VICE-PRESIDENT Professor Yemi Osinbajo has said that the proposed $1billion which the state governors requested that the government withdraw from the Excess Crude Account is not just for the battle Boko Haram insurgency.

Osinbajo however said that the reserve is intended to battle all types of security challenges confronting different states in the nation.

The Vice President gave the comments on Tuesday at the opening of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Secretaries to state governments’ retreat in Abuja.

Osinbajo said that the reserve will be used to handle security difficulties, such as the exercises of Boko Haram in the North East, abducting, little arms trafficking, steers stirring and conflicts amongst herders and ranchers.

Osinbajo stated: “It was on account of the security summit that the governors at the Governors’ Forum subsequently decided that they would vote a certain sum of money, which has become somewhat controversial. The $1billion, to assist the security architecture of the country.

“It was to assist all of the issues in the states, including policing in the states, community policing, all of the different security challenges that we have.

“It was after the security summit that the Governors’ Forum met across party lines, I must add, in order to approve and to accept that this is what needed to be done to shore up our security architecture.”