The Federal Government, on Wednesday, defended the disbursement of N1.15bn for the purchase of 10 SUVs for the Republic of Niger, saying that the move is to enable the country to safeguard its territory in the best interest of Nigeria’s security.
Fielding questions from State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Buhari, the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, said it was not the first time Nigeria is supporting her neighbors.
She argued that the President had a responsibility to make such decisions “in the best interests of the country”.
A report published on Wednesday by Sahara Reporters in June revealed that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), approved N1.15bn to purchase 10 Toyota Land Cruiser V8 vehicles for the Nigerien government.
The record which was sourced from the ‘appropriations’ page of the Ministry’s website showed that in July 2022, N1,145,000,000 was approved for payment to Kaura Motors Nigeria Limited to supply the SUVs.
Not that Kaura Motors will also supply 25 operational vehicles for the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission at the sum of N810.53m, as revealed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday.
It also revealed that the President had okayed the disbursement in February 2022.
“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.”
Meanwhile, in Niger Republic, President Mohammed Bazoum has honoured six Nigerians as the country marked its 62nd Independence anniversary in the capital city of Niamey.
They include the Jigawa State Governor, Mohammad Badaru, his Zamfara State counterpart, Bello Matawalle, Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, Chairman of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu, State Chief of Protocol, Lawan Kazaure, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Matters, Saiki Abba.