According to Ahmed, Nigerians have a right to ask questions about the vehicles purchase for Niger Republic, but the President has a responsibility to make an assessment of what is in the best interests of the country.
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Federal Government has confirmed that it purchased vehicles worth N1.14billion for the Government of Niger Republic to help tackle insecurity.
Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed told journalists on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja that President Muhammadu Buhari deemed it fit to do so.
A report published by Sahara Reporters had revealed that President Buhari, in February, approved N1.14bn 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.
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Ahmed said it was Buhari’s prerogative and she cannot question his decision.
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 the country.
“This is not the first time that Nigeria has supported Niger, Cameroon or Chad, and the President makes an assessment as to what is required, based on the request of their president and such requests are approved and the interventions provided is to enhance their capacity to protect their own territory as it relates to security also to Nigeria.
“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 said.
