By The Federal Government has confirmed the purchase of vehicles worth N1.4 billion for the Government of Niger Republic.
BlackBox Nigeria had reported that a leaked document from the country’s Budget Office revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the said amount.
In the document shared by investigative journalist, David Hundeyin, on Tuesday, the approved sum was earmarked for the supply of 10 Toyota Land Crusier V8 vehicles to the Government of Niger Republic. This development has since sparked outrage from Nigerians on social media.
Speaking on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed explained that the move was to help the Nigerien Government tackle insecurity.
Ahmed said the intervention to the neighboring Niger Republic was not new, adding that it was the prerogative of President Muhammadu Buhari who approved the purchase.
The Minister noted that her principal has the right to make his own assessment of situations and give directives accordingly.
She added that the financial support, which was primarily for the purpose of enhancing capacity to protect their territory, based on a request by the Nigerien Government, was also in the best interest of the country.
