By Emmanuel Nduka
A Budget Office document detailing how Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari approved a whooping N1.4billion to buy vehicles for the Government of Niger Republic, has found it’s way into the country’s social media space.
The document dated July 22, 2022, and was imprinted on an official letter head paper of the Federal Government of Nigeria, was leaked by David Hundeyin, an investigative journalist and government critic, on his Twitter handle.
According to the leaked document, the approved sum was earmarked for the supply of 10 Toyota Land Crusier V8 vehicles to the Government of Niger Republic on the approval of President Buhari.
While the Nigerian Government is yet to respond to the document as at the time of filling this report, Heritage Times HT reports that Nigerians have moaned bitterly, especially as this revelation comes at a time when the country and its citizens are battling with the worse economic situation in the nation’s history.
In June 2021, President Buhari publicly justified his regime’s decision to spend $1.9 billion on a rail project to the Niger Republic, saying he has family members there.
Buhari, while speaking during an exclusive interview broadcast on Arise TV explained that his regime’s decision to build rail lines from Kano to the country was to allow his Nigerien relatives easily have access to Nigeria.
“I have cousins, family members, etc., in Niger Republic. I shouldn’t just cut them off,” Buhari said.
Also, as insecurity worsens across the country, Nigerians have accused Buhari of unwillingness to deal with the situation, mostly because majority of the purveyors are of his ancestral descent.
See a copy of the document below.