Did the Muhammadu Buhari presidency lavish about N1.2billion on procuring vehicles for neighbouring Niger Republic, or the money is sitting pretty in Nigeria’s coffers? That is one question begging for answer in light of the need for accountability with public resources and the administration’s professed agenda of duelling with graft in Nigerian national life.
Government recently owned up to alleged disbursement of N1.15billion for purchase of 10 SUVs for the Republic of Niger, defending the measure as a move to enable that country to safeguard its territory in the best interest of Nigeria’s security. Reports had said President Buhari, in July, approved the sum for payment to a Nigerian motor dealer to supply 10 Toyota Land Cruiser V8 vehicles to the Nigerien government, as shown on an ‘appropriations page’ displayed on the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning’s website. That news elicited public outrage, against the backdrop of prevailing harsh economic realities and six-month-old strike by varsity teachers over poor tertiary education funding that made many Nigerians wonder why the gesture should be a priority.
Following the report, however, Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed said it wasn’t the first time Nigeria was supporting neighbouring nations towards securing her own territory, and that it was the President’s prerogative to make such decisions in Nigeria’s best interest. “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,” she added.
Now it seems no vehicle was delivered to Niger, at least from the Nigerian presidency. Niger Republic’s Minister of Defence Alkassoum Indatou was last week reported denying the donation, explaining that only Zamfara State government had come to the aid of his country with five Hilux vehicles – and that, largely on account of repeated interventions by Nigerien forces to safeguard Nigerian territory from terrorists. A translation of a statement in French by Indatou, who spoke on behalf of the Niger Republic President, quoted him saying: “It is only the State of Zamfara that has given five vehicles to the Maradi region, four of which have already been received, it is not the Federal Government as the Minister of Finance of Nigeria Zainab Ahmed declared. The people of Zamfara who are on the border with Niger call more on Nigerien soldiers, who respond to the minute than even those of their own country.”
If Indatou is to be believed – and there’s no obvious reason why not – where are the 10 SUVs reportedly procured by the Federal Government, or where is the money purportedly committed to the project? Nigerians need an answer, and now.