Posted by By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi, Snr Correspondent, Abuja on
Minister of State for Defence, Fidelia Njeze, on Monday told the Senate Committee on Defence and Army of Federal Government's intention to rehabilitate a bunker used by the defunct Biafra during the civil war, nicknamed Ojukwu Bunker, next year.
Minister of State for Defence, Fidelia Njeze, on Monday told the Senate Committee on Defence and Army of Federal Government's intention to rehabilitate a bunker used by the defunct Biafra during the civil war, nicknamed Ojukwu Bunker, next year.
The bunker is located in Umuahia, Abia State. Njeze told the Ibrahim Ida-led committee that rehabilitation of the bunker was part of on-going efforts to improve the capabilities of the Nigerian Army.
Speaking while defending the ministry's 2009 budget, Njeze said "eight projects, including the Ojukwu Bunker, had their procurement processes completed and were awaiting presentation to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for necessary approval but had to be withdrawn in consequence of the amended budget."
According to her, a number of projects in the 2008 budget had their allocations adjusted either upward or downward in the amended draft budget.
"This is coming after the conclusion of the procurement processes for these projects, thus necessitating scope adjustments and/or the procurement of the balance of the project," she said.
The minister noted that the ministry recorded some remarkable progress in the implementation of the 2008 budget. "The total appropriation to the ministry, including the services and parastatals, totalled N27.39 billion. Out of this, the total sum of N23. 35 billion was released to date and the corresponding total expenditure stand at N14. 01 billion. The average percentage implementation so far is 60 per cent".
The minister called for special funding for the armed forces in view of the efforts of government to modernise and professionalise the profession.