Buratai: $1bn Arms Procurement Funds Went to Defence Ministry, Not the Military
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (retd.), has broken his silence on the long-running controversy surrounding a $1 billion arms procurement fund, insisting that the money never passed through him or the accounts of the Nigerian Army, Navy or Air Force.
Speaking on Monday at the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) conference in Abuja, Buratai said the funds were approved by the National Economic Council and released directly to the Ministry of Defence, which handled the entire procurement process.
“Not a single dollar of that fund passed through my hands or through the accounts of the Nigerian Army, Navy, or Air Force,” he stated. “The funds were released to the Ministry of Defence, and the entire procurement process was handled by that ministry. The Army, Navy and Air Force never had a single dollar from that fund to make procurement directives.”
The Origin of the Controversy
Buratai described the allegations of diversion as “political and malicious.” He said they first surfaced during the 2019 election period when opposition figures claimed the money had been used for electoral purposes — a claim the Federal Government publicly denied at the time.
Despite the denial, he noted that the negative narrative continued to stick to the service chiefs rather than the institution that actually managed the funds.
“The $1 billion arms procurement controversy festered because the institution that managed the funds, the Ministry of Defence, remained silent while Service Chiefs absorbed criticism,” Buratai said. “When the media asks where the money went, the answer should come from the ministry that spent it, not from military officers who never touched it.”
Call for Greater Transparency
Beyond clearing his name, the retired general used the platform to push for structural reforms in defence spending. He recommended the creation of a Defence Procurement Transparency Portal that would publish broad details of contracts awarded, the companies involved, and expected delivery timelines — while still protecting genuine national security information.
He also suggested regular public updates on court-martial outcomes involving human rights issues, arguing that the military should not be seen as above the law.
Why This Matters
The $1 billion arms fund has remained one of the most talked-about defence controversies of the Buhari era. For years, questions have lingered about whether the money translated into improved equipment and operational capacity for the armed forces fighting insecurity across the country.
Buratai’s latest comments shift the focus of accountability firmly onto the Ministry of Defence. Whether the ministry will now provide a clearer public account of how the funds were used remains to be seen. What is clear is that the issue of transparency in defence procurement continues to generate public interest, especially at a time when Nigeria still faces serious security challenges.
Sources:
Statements by Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.) at the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) conference, Abuja, October 12, 2026; reports from Tribune, The Sun, PM News and other national dailies.
