FG Justify Purchase Of N1.15B Vehicles For Niger Republic

The Federal Government of Nigeria has justified the approval of N1.15 billion for the purchase of vehicles for neighbouring Niger Republic.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajia. Zainab Ahmed who confirmed the report after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday argued that even though Nigerians had the right to question the approval but President Muhammadu Buhari who approved the purchase also had the right to make his own assessment on situations and act accordingly.

The meeting which was presided over by President Buhari at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja, the minister said Nigeria had a policy of assisting its neighbours to strengthen capacity to deal with insecurity.

According to her, "over time Nigeria has been supporting its neighbours, and that the donation was to enhance the capacity of Niger Republic to maintain security".

She also said the President had the liberty to assess what was in the best interest of the country, she maintained that the President reserved the right to take decisions in the interest of Nigeria saying that this was not the first time the country was approving such interventions to its neighbours.

She said: “Let me just say that overtime, Nigeria has had to support its neighbours especially the immediate neighbours to enhance their capacity to secure their countries as it relates to us. This is not the first time that Nigeria had assisted Niger Republic, Cameroon or Chad".

Reports have it that the President approved the purchase of 10 Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles to the Republic of Niger.

There have been outrage over the FG's generosity to the neighbouring country as well meaning Nigerians have questioned why such money should be spent for Niger Republic when public universities in Nigeria remained closed for over five months due the inability of the government to meet up with the demands of Accademic Staff Union of Universities (ASSU).

The outrage was generated by the move exposed by a popular social media influencer, David Hundeyin.

The document released by Hundeyin showed that the contract to supply the 10 units of Toyoya Land Cruisers was awarded to IFO Kaura Motors Nig. Limited and the President approved the release of the fund on February 22 this year.

It may interest you to note that the Niger Republic President, Mohammed Bazoum recently honoured six Nigerians as the country marked its 62nd independence anniversary in Niamey.

The six Nigerians are the Jigawa State governor, Mohammad Badaru; his Zamfara State counterpart, Bello Matawalle; Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; Chairman of BUA Cement, Abdulsamad Rabiu; State Chief of Protocol, SCOPE, Ambassador Lawan Kazaure, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Matters, Saiki Abba.

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