The funds were disbursed by the Ministry of Defence in July 2024, with records on GovSpend showing multiple tranches of payments made through the Naira Transit Account.
According to the transaction details, the payments were classified as “Being purchase of critical and urgent operational equipment for the Nigerian military.”
However, specific details about the type of equipment procured and its intended use remain undisclosed.
Also, procurement of firearms and ammunition were done by the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, with payments totaling hundreds of millions of naira made to multiple defence contractors.
The NIS received payments for various arms, including Scorpion Evo 19 & 9 rifles, Tavor rifles, and General-Purpose Machine Guns (7.62x51mm), intended for its Women Armed Squad and Rapid Response Squad.
On February 14, 2024, the NIS paid N87.95m to Keygate Ltd for the procurement of Scorpion Evo 19 & 9 rifles for its women’s armed squad. On the same day, another N86.3m was paid to Belrock Ltd for the acquisition of Tavor rifles for its Rapid Response Squad.
Further payments were made for additional arms and ammunition. On April 6, 2024, N27.6m was disbursed to BNTI Arm Limited for the procurement of GPMG (7.62x51mm) ammunition for the NIS.
A significant installment was also made on April 23, 2024, when Keygate Ltd received N353.7m, representing 30% of the total cost for a larger arms and ammunition procurement project for the NIS headquarters in Abuja.
In a related development, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Commission also made high-value procurement.
On September 25, 2024, the agency paid N90.1m to Green Whispers Global Ltd for the supply of 872 AK-47 close-contact military bayonets (jack knives) for Zone ‘F’.
The purchases highlight the government’s efforts to enhance the operational capacity of paramilitary forces in tackling security challenges.
