Army-Air Force Feud Crippled Counterterrorism Under Buhari – Presidency

The Presidency has alleged that a rivalry between the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration undermined counterterrorism operations, with troops allegedly denied crucial air support during some military missions.

Special adviser policy communications to the President , Daniel Bwala made the claim while speaking on The Link Up Podcast, a panel discussion hosted by EchoRoom and published on Friday.

According to Bwala, disagreements between the then Chief of Air Staff and the leadership of the Nigerian Army disrupted operational coordination, resulting in situations where requests for air cover were not honoured during military operations.

“I remember during Buhari there was this disagreement that was reported to be between the Chief of Air Staff and that of the Army, so that whenever an operation was undertaken, when they asked for air cover, there wouldn’t be support. In this administration, it is not so. There is coordination or cooperation,” Bwala said.

He made the remarks while responding to questions on allegations that terrorist groups may have infiltrated Nigeria’s security agencies.

Bwala dismissed claims that members of the military deliberately shield terrorists during attacks, describing such allegations as speculative in the absence of concrete evidence.

“I don’t think so. You see that’s a conjecture, except there’s a live case,” he said.

However, he acknowledged that isolated cases of infiltration or collaboration by individuals within the security services could not be completely ruled out.

“You cannot rule out the fact that they may have one or two agents in the army, anywhere else… Our police have always been arrested, and soldiers arrested involved in this kind of thing,” he said, referring to previous arrests involving security personnel, including a senior police officer allegedly apprehended alongside Chinese nationals.

Bwala argued that such security breaches are not unique to Nigeria, citing former United States intelligence contractor Edward Snowden as an example of how infiltration can occur even in advanced countries.

“This will happen anywhere in the world. Snowden was a contractor to the US national security. These are elements that can happen, and why I didn’t want to talk much on that is because there are measures we’re taking and we don’t want people to know,” he added.

The presidential aide also suggested that Nigeria’s security challenges have an international dimension, recalling demonstrations in parts of northern Nigeria during which protesters reportedly displayed Russian flags.

“If you remember, there was a decision the Federal Government of Nigeria made at that time, immediately we started seeing these people in Nigeria lifting Russian flags,” he said.

Bwala further referred to allegations made by United States Congressman Scott Perry during a congressional hearing, in which the lawmaker claimed that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) funded Boko Haram and the Islamic State.

While stressing that he was neither confirming nor endorsing the allegations, Bwala said the claims illustrated that conversations about external influences on terrorism had taken place internationally.

“I wouldn’t say that, but I will tell you what I saw. When they were having the congressional hearing, I don’t know whether it is true or not, because he’s not a Nigerian, but I’m just providing facts to you to tell you that conversations like that have gone on.

“Scott Perry was interrogating the CIA director and he was telling him that their congressional finding suggests that the CIA was funding Boko Haram, ISIS.

“So, me, I’m not saying he’s right or he’s wrong. But what I’m saying is that an event like that has occurred, and as a country we cannot hear that and say you are a liar,” he said.

Assessing President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Bwala said the government had recorded significant progress, particularly in strengthening Nigeria’s foreign reserves and improving revenue generation.

“He has done more than enough to earn the trust of Nigerians,” he said, adding that it would ultimately be up to Nigerians to decide whether the President deserves another term in office.