FG confirms purchase of N1.4bn vehicles for Niger Republic

By Uthman Salami, Ariemu Ogaga and Matthew Denis

Despite worrisome debts rate, the ongoing industrial action by members of the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) over pittance salary and deplorable state of teaching environments in universities across the country, the federal government has confirmed that it approved the purchase of vehicles worth N1.4 billion for neighbouring Niger Republic to tackle insecurity.

In a move described by critics as height of wastefulness of taxpayers’ earnings, misplaced priority fiscal intervention and lack of empathy to the yearnings of Nigerian students whose academic aspirations have been further elongated by extra months owing to over five months of lecturers industrial actions, the federal government said the financial intervention was intended to help the neighbouring Benin Republic to combat insecurity.

Recall that on March 4, 2022, the Buhari-led federal government had announced the donation of $1 million to Afghanistan a Muslim country, which many Nigerians described as financial recklessness.

Yesterday, while explaining the rationale behind the approval of the intervention, the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed said such a move was not new and that it is within the prerogative of the President to make approval for such purchase.

According to her, President Buhari, whose actions she cannot question, has the right to make his own assessment of situations and give directives accordingly.

She added that the financial support, which is primarily for the purpose of enhancing capacity to protect their territory, based on a request by the Nigerien Government, is also in the best interest of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Nigerians have expressed disappointment over the federal government’s financial recklessness.

Speaking with Nigerian NewsDirect yesterday, Barr. Ameh Madaki said Nigerians should demand accountability for unbudgeted expenditures.

According to him, “Nigerians are understandably outraged at the spate of largesse from this Government towards Niger Republic.

“Just as the citizens continue to grapple with the rationale of extending a rail line from Jibiya to Maradi in Niger Republic at great cost to an ailing National economy, this news of the N1.4 billion largesse on SUVs for Niger Republic government officials breaks, even as the government continues to battle with dwindling revenues accruing to the Federation Account.”

He added that, “There is certainly much more to this than meets the eye. A responsible National Assembly should be demanding accountability for this unbudgeted expenditure in the midst of national economic distress.”

On his part, the Lead Strategist of Nigerian Workforce Strategy and Enlightenment Centre (NIWOSEC), Dr David Kayode Ehindero said, “This is the height of insensitivity on the part of Federal Government.

“Charity, they say, begins at home. But Mr president’s Charity is more of outside Nigeria.

“It seems the President is actually related to Niger Republic as insinuated by some quarters, which warranted attention on Niger Republic.”

According to him, “The wanton of security and economic issues bedevilling Nigeria as the unending ASUU requests, which is yet to be met, is a matter of concern, the Government claims they don’t have money. This, notwithstanding, they are spending so much on frivolities”

Also, the former aide to President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Reno Omokri said Nigerians should not be surprised over Buhari’s wastefulness, noting that the actions of the president laid further credence to the calls of his impeachment.

In his words, “Why are Nigerians surprised that General Buhari bought vehicles worth N1.4 billion to Niger Republic? This is after all the same man that donated $1 million to the Taliban of Afghanistan.

“Buhari should have been impeached by the Senate last week. It’s not too late!”

Speaking via his verified Twitter handle, Senator Shehu Sani expressed sadness over lack of proper Senate’s scrutiny of such intervention, questioning how such approval for the intervention could pass the chambers without raising any eyebrow.

He said, “The question is, how does the purchase of vehicles for the Government of Niger Republic escape the oversight functions of the National Assembly.”

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) urged the President to seek for the refund of the N1.4 billion to offset the funding for ASUU.

“The Buhari administration must immediately ask Niger Republic authorities to refund the N1.4 billion approved for them to buy vehicles, and use the money to offset the funding for ASUU, so that poor children can go back to school.”

Special Assistant to the president Buhari on Digital and New Media Tolu Ogunlesi supported the Minster’s of Finance stance, saying that such intervention by Nigeria to other countries was not new.

He said, “This is not the first time Nigeria is supporting her neighbours (Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Benin) in ways like this. The President has a responsibility to assess requests made (for support) and to approve if he feels it’s in the best interest of Nigeria to do so.”

Currently, Nigeria’s total debt stock hit N41.6 trillion in the first quarter of 2022, representing a N2.05 trillion increase compared to N39.56 trillion recorded in December last year.

This is just as Nigeria’s oil production between January 2020 and May 2022 dropped below the 2017-2019 output by 28 per cent, a decrease the authorities have blamed on rising crude oil theft in the oil-producing Niger Delta.