Rising Insecurity: Army clears air over alleged poor equipment, welfare | Newskeeper

Pic: Nigerian troops

By Ayyuba Haruna, Abuja

The Nigerian Army has dismissed an online report on purported disquiet among its personnel over unpaid emoluments, and poor working conditions among others.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Wednesday described the report as phantom and failed attempt at institutional blackmail.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported the Army spokesman saying that, "it is on record that officers and soldiers of the Nigerian army under the leadership of Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, like never before, have witnessed exceptional positive changes in the moral and physical components of the force.

"Nigerian army had never had it so good, given the quantum of combat and logistics equipment that had been injected into the theatres of operations," he explained.

Nwachukwu added that, "aside prompt payment of salaries and operational allowances, welfare flights have been inaugurated, which significantly reduced the burden of troops travelling in and out of the theatres to see their loved ones.

However, the spokesman revealed that, “Scholarships are also being awarded to children of officers and soldiers killed in action in the on-going operations.

“It is worthy of note that across all army barracks, there are deliberate efforts at providing conducive working and living conditions for troops and their families.

NEWSKEEPER reports that, security challenges in north western part of the country became more worrisome considering the rising banditry attacks and kidnapping by unknown gunmen in Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna and Niger States among others.