In order to better address the nation’s current security challenges, the National Assembly will appropriate special funds towards that purpose in the 2013 budget.
According to the House of Representatives Committee on Defence Chairman, Alhaji Bashir Adamu, the said funds will also be provided in the interim to tackle the immediate challenges facing military barracks in the country.
This disclosure was made shortly after he led other members of the committee on a sympathy visit to Jaji Military Cantonment in Kaduna State.
“We are here to register our condolences to families of the victims and commiserate with them over their losses and wish the injured persons quick recovery”
“We are looking to address the current situation in the Jaji Cantonment and other military accommodations with similar situations by providing a special package in the interim.”
“While this is being done in the interim, we shall consider making adequate vote for funds to address the general situation and secure military barracks in the country”, he said.
Adamu said that the committee had identified some of the challenges of the cantonment and pledged that adequate funds would be provided in the 2013 budget to address them, both in the short term and long term basis.
15 persons were killed and about 30 others were injured when bombs exploded at the cantonment last Sunday.
It can be recalled also that during a similar visit by the Senate Committee on Defence and the Army, the committee recommended that the state government relocate more than 3,000 civilians living in six settlements within the barracks in order to secure it.