Osinbajo : Governors Approve  $1bn insurgency fund

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo said on Tuesday that state governors approved the removal of $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) to fight the Boko Haram insurgents after a national security summit organised by the National Economic Council.

Osinbajo, who chairs the NEC, stated this at the opening of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation/Secretaries to State Governments’ retreat at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said: “It was after a national security summit of the National Economic Council that governors at their forum decided to approve some money for national security.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other Nigerians have condemned the decision of the Federal Government to approach the NEC for withdraw of the fund to fight insurgency.

The PDP in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan described the move as alarming.

The party asked the federal government to explain the rationale behind such decision after claiming in the past that the Boko Haram sect has been defeated by the military.