AS the federal government is claiming not to have the required fund to meet with the demands by striking unions in public universities, the federal government on Wednesday justified the approval of the sum of N1,145,000,000.00 for the purchase of vehicles for Republic of Niger.
The government expenditure was exposed by investigative journalist and popular social media influencer, David Hundeyin.
Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, confirmed the report when asked at the media briefing after Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
She said even though Nigerians have the right to question the approval, President Buhari also has the right to make his own assessment on situations and act accordingly.
Further justifying the action, Mrs Ahmed said Nigeria has a policy of assisting her neighbours to strengthen capacity to deal with insecurity and that the donation was to enhance the capacity of Niger Republic to maintain security.
Stressing that President Buhari has the liberty to access what is in the best interest of the country, Mrs Ahmed maintained that the President reserved the right to take decisions in the interest of Nigeria.
“This was not the first time the country is proving such interventions to her neighbours. 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.
“The President makes an assessment as to what is required based on the request of their presidents. Such requests are approved and interventions are provided. It is to enhance their capacity to protect their countries, as it relates to security and also to Nigeria.”
She further added: “Nigerians have the rights to ask questions, but also the President has the responsibility to make an assessment of what is in the best interest of the country and I cannot question the decision myself.
“I have said that this is not the first time and that Nigeria as a country has provided an intervention to our neighbours. It is in the best interest of Nigeria to do so”
David Hundeyin’s report revealed how the President approved the purchase of about 10 Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles to the Republic of Niger, but did not however, specify the purpose for such approval.
The document released in the story showed that the president approved the release of the fund on the February 22, 2022 in a contract awarded for 10 units of Toyota Land Cruisers to IFO Kaura Motors Nig. Limited.
