The Federal Government, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, has provided more information about the N1.15 billion budgeted allocation for the purchase of 10 Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for the Republic of Niger.
The news of the fund’s distribution to the French-speaking neighboring Niger Republic sparked great resentment among Nigerians, who argued that the government shouldn’t prioritize another country’s debt in light of the dire financial situation it finds itself in.
According to a report released on Wednesday by Sahara Reporters, the president, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (ret. ), gave the green light in June to spending N1.15 billion to buy the Nigerien government 10 Toyota Land Cruiser V8 vehicles.
According to the paperwork, which was obtained from the Ministry’s website’s ‘appropriations’ page, N1,145,000,000 was authorized for payment to Kaura Motors Nigeria Limited in July 2022 for the supply of the SUVs.
Additionally, it disclosed that the President had authorized the payment since February 2022.
The fund, according to the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, was created to help the nation protect its territory for the benefit of Nigeria’s security.
After the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, which was presided over by President Buhari, Ahmed responded to inquiries from reporters by saying that Nigeria has always supported her neighbors.
She argued that the President has a responsibility to make such decisions “in the best interests of the country”.
“Let me just say that, over time, Nigeria has had to support its neighbours, especially immediate neighbours, to enhance their capacity to secure their countries as it relates to us.
“This is not the first time that Nigeria has supported Niger, Cameroon or Chad, and the President makes an assessment as to what is required, based on the request of their president and such requests are approved and the interventions provided is to enhance their capacity to protect their own territory as it relates to security also to Nigeria.
“Nigerians have a right to ask questions, but also the President has a responsibility to make an assessment of what is in the best interests of the country. And I cannot question that decision.”
