Following news that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved N1.4 billion for the purchase of 10 vehicles for the Niger Republic, Nigerians have been harshly critical of him.
David Hundeyin, a well-known investigative journalist, claimed on Tuesday night that President Buhari had approved the funding for the purchase of 10 Toyota Land Cruiser jeeps in a document from the nation’s budget office.
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The document also included the name and number of the account where the funds were deposited.
The tweet from Hundeyin is below.
I'm going to put this on Twitter because @WestAfricaWeek is a long-read platform that doesn't do breaking news, and this needs to be out there.
I've got hold of a budget office document showing @MBuhari approving N1.4 billion to buy vehicles for the government of Niger Republic. pic.twitter.com/GDVx50cOJ0
— David Hundeyin (@DavidHundeyin) August 2, 2022
I went ahead to confirm the account details provided in the document and sure enough it checks out.
Why is @MBuhari's government purchasing vehicles for a foreign government? Is this an extension of the same nonsensical decision-making that saw it prioritise a railway to Maradi? pic.twitter.com/kQJORSSHRx
— David Hundeyin (@DavidHundeyin) August 2, 2022
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??
— NEFERTITI (@firstladyship) August 2, 2022
Never forget that Buhari was able to find money for a railway line passing his village to Niger but couldn’t find money to end ASUU strike of nearly one academic year now.
Priorities.
— Mitchell Obama Lokan (@Ambrosia_Ijebu) July 26, 2022
You are a student, you've been at home for 6 months because of ASUU while we are funding Niger Republic government but you are still shouting Emi Lokan.
My dear, you are not part of it. It is not your turn but his turn. Buhari is done sha.
— DISTINGUISHED Everest (@novieverest) August 2, 2022
The Federal Government has disclosed that it has purchased vehicles worth N1.4 billion to help Niger Republic tackle insecurity.
On Wednesday, Zainab Ahmed, the minister of finance, budget, and national planning, confirmed the news, stating that President Muhammadu Buhari has the authority to approve the purchase and that intervening in the neighbouring Niger Republic is nothing new.
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She asserts that President Buhari has the right to assess situations for himself and issue orders in accordance with those findings. She cannot question his actions.
She continued by saying that the financial assistance, which was requested by the government of Niger and is primarily intended to help them better protect their territory, is also in the best interests of the nation.
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After the President-led Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the minister addressed questions about documents that were circulated on social media and revealed that the president had authorised the release of the funds for the Niger Republic on February 22, 2022.
