A statement by the Federal Government on Thursday, July 14 has revealed that military procurement deals against the Boko Haram insurgency were filled with irregularities and corruption.

According to the Presidential committee which issued the statement, defence contracts were awarded to companies “who lacked the necessary technical competence.”

The seven-page statement also stated that there were outstanding contracts for armoured vehicles, ballistic, vests, night vision binoculars and three unmanned aerial vehicles. It also stated that armoured vehicles delivered in 2007 for peace-keeping operations shockingly broke down.

“Many of the contracts were characterised by lack of due process, in breach of extant procurement regulations and tainted by corrupt practices,” said the statement, describing the findings of the interim report which audited procurement contracts from 2007 until 2015.

During the raging Boko Haram insurgency, Nigerian troops reported that they were under-equipped to fight the insurgents, who had captured a chunk of the country’s northeastern region.

If you recall, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is currently investigating some top military officers for corruption.

Azeez