The federal government of Nigeria has justified the approval of the sum of N1,145,000,000.00 for the purchase of vehicles for the Niger Republic.

Following the outrage generated by the measure exposed by a popular social media influencer, David Hundeyin, on Wednesday, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, argued that even though Nigerians have the right to question, President Muhammadu Buhari, who approved the purchase also has the right to make his own assessment on situations and act accordingly.

Responding to questions during the post-Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday, she said Nigeria has a policy of assisting its neighbours to strengthen its capacity to deal with insecurity.

The document released by the media influencer showed that the president approved the release of the fund on the 22nd of February this year.

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

“Let me just say that overtime, Nigeria has had to support its neighbours, especially, immediate neighbours, to enhance their capacity to secure their countries as it relates to us. “This is not the first time that Nigeria had assisted Niger Republic, Cameroon or Chad.“The President makes an assessment as to what is required based on the request of their Presidents. Such requests are approved and interventions are provided.”She added: “Nigerians have the right to ask questions, but also the President has the responsibility to make an assessment of what is in the best interest of the country and I cannot question the decision myself. “It is to enhance their capacity to protect their countries, as it relates to security and also to Nigeria. So, it is in the best interest of Nigeria to do so for our neighbours”, the Finance Minister said. Most Nigerians queried the action insisting that funding a foreign entity should not be the government’s priority amid harsh economic realities. It will be recalled that President Mohammed Bazoum of Niger Republic had months back expressed appreciation to President Buhari for approving the $1.96 billion Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project during his state visit to Nigeria.President Buhari had, in February 2021, performed the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kano–Dutse–Katsina–Maradi 284km rail project connecting Kano in Nigeria to Maradi in Niger Republic.The project, approved by the Federal Executive Council in September 2020, was argued to be crucial to rail development in Nigeria and in the West African sub-region. The project is being executed by Mota-Engil Group, a multinational engineering, and construction company. Government said the project, with 15 stations along the corridor, would boost socio-economic activities in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states in Nigeria, as well as Maradi in Niger Republic.

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