The Federal government has confirmed that vehicles were bought for the government of Niger Republic, stating that the vehicles were to assist the government in fighting insecurity.
Newsonline reports that the minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed disclosed this following inquiry on an alleged report of the Federal government purchasing vehicles for the president of Niger to the tune of N1.4 billion.
An independent investigative journalist, David Hundeyin alleged that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari bought 2022 Toyota Landcruiser V8 Prado Jeeps worth N1.4 billion for the government of Niger Republic.
Disclosing the purchase of the Toyota vehicles, David tweeted, “I’m going to put this on Twitter because @WestAfricaWeek is a long-read platform that doesn’t do breaking news, and this needs to be out there.
“I’ve got hold of a budget office document showing @MBuhari approving N1.4 billion to buy vehicles for the government of Niger Republic.”
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Reacting to the allegation by David Hundeyin, the Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed, confirmed that it has purchased vehicles worth 1.4billion naira to help Niger republic tackle insecurity.
Zainab added that it was based on a request by the Nigerien Government which is also in the best interest of Nigeria.
Reacting to the purchase of the vehicle, a former senator that represented Kaduna Central in the 7th senate, Senator Shehu Sani, asked, “The question is, how comes the purchase of vehicles for the Government of Niger Republic escaped the oversight functions of the National Assembly?”
Also, Adekunle Sulaimon argued that the Federal government spending N1.4 billion to purchase 10 Landcruiser Toyota Jeeps while ASUU is still on strike shows President Buhari’s administration is playing with the university lecturers body.
He said, “N1.4billion for the purchase of 10 Land Cruiser V8 vehicles to fight insecurity in Niger Republic, the same thing Nigeria is plagued with. ASUU should just continue their strike for extra 3 years until their demands are met. I can authoritatively confirm that there’s money.”
