Niger Republic Must Refund Nigeria’s N1.4bn, Use It To Settle ASUU – SERAP Tells Buhari

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has reacted to the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to buy luxury cars for Niger Republic.

Buhari Purchase Cars For Niger Republic Government

KanyiDaily recalls that Nigerian journalist, David Hundeyin had published a document showing how Buhari approved N1,145,000,000 for the purchase of 10 Toyota Land Cruiser V8 vehicles for government officials in Niger Republic.

According to the documents, Buhari through the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, awarded the contract to KAURA MOTORS NIG. LIMITED on February 25, 2022.

Reacting to the outrage generated by the action,  Mrs. Ahmed argued that even though Nigerians have the right to question the rationale for such donation, Buhari, who approved the purchase, also had the right to make his own assessment on situations and act accordingly.

The minister, who spoke on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Buhari in Abuja, said Nigeria has a policy of assisting its neighbouring countries including Chad, Cameroon, and many others.

Reacting on its Twitter page on Wednesday, SERAP asked Buhari to demand a refund of the N1.4 billion given to Niger Republic and use the fund to settle the five-month strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

SERAP tweeted, “The Buhari administration must immediately ask Niger Republic authorities to refund the N1.4 billion approved for them to buy vehicles, and use the money to offset the funding for ASUU, so those poor children can go back to school”.

KanyiDaily recalls that a former senator representing Kaduna Central district, Shehu Sani had also questioned how the purchase of vehicles for the Niger Republic Government escaped the oversight of the National Assembly.