NIA Gets N4.87bn Allocation To Track, Intercept Calls, Messages

The National Assembly has approved N4.87billion budget for the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to track, intercept and monitor calls and messages on mobile devices, including Thuraya cell phones and WhatsApp.
The amount is part of the N895.8billion supplementary budget submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari, last month, and approved by both chambers of the National Assembly, last week, after increasing it by about N87billion.
The budget, according to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Barau Jibrin, is meant to procure equipment for the military and to fight further spread of Covid-19.
Details of the supplementary budget revealed that the NIA would spend N2,938,650,000 on Thuraya interception solution, while the WhatsApp interception solution would gulp N1, 931,700,000.
Apart from this, the NIA got additional N129million to enable its personnel embark on foreign training.
On its part, the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) got a capital vote of N16.8billion to provide infrastructure, cyber intelligence centre/laboratory, independent lawful intercept platform (voice and advanced data monitoring) and tactical mobile geological platform.
Out of the N33.6billion approved for the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs as recurrent expenditure, the sum of N200million has been set aside to fumigate 19 police training institutes across the country.
The sum of N4.1billion was set aside for the feeding of trainees, while their allowances and salaries would gulp N910million.
Teaching allowances for training and support staff was put at N257million, while monitoring and evaluation of training would gulp N582million.
The Nigeria Police Force would also spend N2.2billion on other logistics and consumables.
In its capital component, the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs would spend N8.5billion to procure ballistic helmets, bulletproof vests and utility vehicles.
The Police Affairs Ministry also got N22.5billion vote to procure drones, ammunition, discreet intelligence equipment and other requirements.
The Defence Headquarters got N3.7billion to take care of additional 2,700 troops and execute the Cimices Quick Impact project, among others.
The DHQ, in the capital component of the budget, got N33.6billion to buy arms, ammunition, vehicles, generators, combat motorcycles, communication equipment and clothing, among others.
The Nigerian Army Headquarters got a total N 1.590billion as ration cash allowance/operation allowances, petroleum oil lubricants, contingency, monitoring and training, among others.
The capital vote of the Army Headquarters is put at N207billion to buy arms, ammunition, vehicles, surveillance equipment, body armour/protection and all classes of tyres, among other equipment.
The breakdown of the supplementary budget further showed that the Nigerian Navy got N5.9billion to fuel capital ships and Helot.
The Nigerian Navy, however, got a capital vote of N157.7billion to procure vehicles, arms, ammunition, power supply, general hardware, body armour/protection, surveillance equipment and other requirements.
On its part, the Nigerian Air Force got N8.2billion to carry out aircraft maintenance, fuelling and construction of airfield facilities, among others.
It also got a capital vote of N239billion to buy additional aircraft, arms, rehabilitation of barracks, special vehicles and others.
The Defence Space Administration got a capital vote of N43.3billion to provide satellite imaging, cyber security, tracking equipment, drones, infrastructure and vehicles.
The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) got a capital vote of N14.8billion to purchase vehicles, communication equipment, arms and ammunition, among others.
The Office of the National Security Adviser got N17billion to complete its counter terrorism centre.