Buhari Lambasted For Gifting 10 Luxury Cars To Niger Republic Worth N1.1bn While ASUU Is Still On Strike
Nigerians on social media have called out President Muhammadu Buhari for purchasing 10 Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles worth N1.1 billion for Niger Republic.
Many said at a time the Academic Staff Union of Universities is on strike, it is wicked of the government to have taken such a decision.
An investigative journalist, David Hundeyin had broken the news on social media.
He said he obtained a document from the Budget Office in Nigeria which showed that the President made the approval for the purchase of the vehicles to the neighbouring country.
Hundeyin also attached a picture of the document to validate the claim that the President approved the release of the money to a company, Kaura Motors Nigeria Limited, on February 28, 2022.
The document read in part, “Being release of funds in the sum of N1,145,000,000 to the office of the Accountant General of the Federation IFO Kaura Motors Nig. Limited for supply of 10 numbers Toyota Land Cruiser V8 Vehicles to Republic of Nigeria vide Mr. President approval on page 83 dated 28/02/2022.”
Defending the purchase of the vehicles, the Federal Government said that the move was to enable the country to safeguard its territory in the best interest of Nigeria’s security.
Fielding questions from journalists after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, said it was not the first time Nigeria was supporting her neighbours.
She explained the President had a responsibility to take such decisions in the best interest of the country.
“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,” Ahmed said.
See reactions below:
@NaijaNewsCEO
10 toyota landcruisers @ 140million each to tackle insecurity. Pls who uses landcruisers for insecurity. What happened to armoured trucks
@YDbello_VP
If the minister of finance Zainab Ahmed claims the purchase of vehicles worth 1.4billion by Buhari to Niger Republic was in the best interest of Nigeria, why wasn’t it communicated to Nigerians.
If not for David Hundeyin could we have known?
BBNaija #Buhari #BuhariMustGo
@novieverest
Had David Hundeyin not reported that Buhari and his government bought vehicles worth 1.4 billion Naira for Niger, we won’t have heard it.
This is what older journalists like Sam Omatseye should be doing, but they prefer to be bigots and gate keepers of journalism.
@firstladyship
Railway to Maradi makes sense now! David Hundeyin just leaked a Letter showing clearly how Buhari approved N1.4 billion to buy vehicles for the government of Niger Republic. Buhari wastes scarce resources on his Nigerien cousins, but he won’t fund ASUU?
WHO IS MUHAMMADU BUHARI??
@drpenking
David Hundeyin just leaked a Letter showing clearly how Buhari approved N1.4 billion to buy vehicles for the government of Niger Republic yet he has refused to fund ASUU. This is the kind of government someone said that he wants to continue its legacy. God please n
@Gifted_Kabi
David Hundeyin just released proof of the Buhari-led administration approving 1.4 Billion naira to buy vehicles for the government of Niger Republic (another country)
You know what that means???
But you wey ASUU strike hold for house since dey campaign for APC.
You be mumu!!!!
@ekesunvictor
1.4b for 10 Toyota Land Cruiser Jeeps. Government Contract is sweet sha. President of a broke country Using Niger Delta oil money to do giveaway for his real siblings
@DavidHundeyin
Same absence of formal education, same fascination with machines, same entrepreneurial drive, same driving ambition.
But one country incorporated Honda into its postwar development plan. The other spends forex worth N1.4bn to import Toyotas and gift them to Niger.
@Chonsyy
Niger Republic is enjoying o. 14 brand new Toyota Landcruisers at N140 million each for security, plus a brand new rail line to Maradi coming soon.
All from big brother next door.