FG Confirms It Purchased N1.4bn Worth Of Vehicles For Niger Republic Amid Outrage

The New Diplomat
Writer
Nigeria’s Non-oil Revenue Grew By 15.7% — Minister
Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed

Ad

2027: INEC Boss, Yakubu Warns, Says APC, ADC, PDP, LP, Others, violating electoral laws with early campaigns

By Abiola Olawale The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has sounded a warning to Nigeria's political parties, declaring that early political campaigns by aspirants and parties pose a severe threat to the nation's fragile democratic framework. Speaking at a high-level stakeholders' roundtable on the challenges of early political campaigns,…

MDBs set to scale up $137bn climate finance push at COP30 in Brazil

By Obinna Uballa Multilateral development banks (MDBs) are preparing to expand climate financing commitments at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, building on a record $137 billion deployed in 2024, according to the Joint Report on Multilateral Development Banks’ Climate Finance made available to New Diplomat on Wednesday. The report, coordinated by the European Investment Bank (EIB)…

Concerns as Qatar Tightens Visa Rules, Bars Nigerian Men from Solo Travel

By Abiola Olawale The Qatari government has announced its decision to bar Nigerian men from travelling solo to the country. The Qatari Ministry of Interior said the new visa regulations for Nigerian men travellers came after recent cases of overstays. Under the new policy, Nigerian men must show intent to travel with their wives, sisters,…

Ad

Amid backlash, the Federal Government has confirmed the revelation that it approved the purchase of vehicles worth N1.4 billion for neighboring Niger Republic to tackle insecurity.

Independent journalist David Hundeyin had on Tuesday posted the photo of a budget office document showing the payment, questioning why the government made the payment.

He asked President Muhammadu Buhari to explain why “scarce” public sector resources were being expended on Niger Republic without it appearing “on official Budget Office documentation.”

The contract to supply the 10 units of Toyota Land Cruisers was awarded to IFO Kaura Motors Nig. Limited.

The document generated reactions from many Nigerians online.

The Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed gave the confirmation on Wednesday, explaining that providing intervention to the neighboring Niger Republic is not new and it is the prerogative of President Muhammadu Buhari who approved the purchase.

The minister, who was speaking after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by the President, responded to questions regarding documents released on social media which showed that the president approved the release of the funds on February 22, 2022, for the Niger Republic.

According to her, President Buhari, whose actions she cannot question, has the right to make his own assessment of situations and give directives accordingly.

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, claiming it was in the best interest of the country.

Ad

Unlocking Opportunities in the Gulf of Guinea during UNGA80
X whatsapp