With the escalating insecurity that is almost sinking the unity of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari graciously donated vehicles to Niger Republic. In this report, CHIKA OKEKE examines the intricacies surrounding the gesture and why it's another diplomatic blunder.
On 3rd August, 2022, the media was awash with the news on how the federal government secretly approved the purchase of vehicles for Niger Republic.
The shocking news popped up despite prolonged Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike by lecturers over poor funding of universities and the inability of government to pay earned academic allowance to lecturers, amounting to N1.1 trillion. This action compelled undergraduates to stay off the tertiary institutions till date, thereby loosing almost two full academic sessions.
In addition, Nigeria's deepening security challenges led to the emergence of Boko haram insurgents in the Northeast, who later joined forced with the Islamic State's West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) to unleash more terror in the States.
The emergence of insurgency-related conflicts in Nigeria had led to the cruel death of over 350,000 person's by the end of 2020, according to a report from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Aside these, the high inflation and foreign exchange rate forced many businesses to shutdown or relocate to neighbouring countries in search of alternative livelihood opportunities.
Regrettably, the freewill donation happened at a time Nigeria needed over N12 trillion to address the huge housing and infrastructure deficits.
Hasty Decision
An independent investigative journalist, Mr. David Hundeyin had posted a document detailing how the federal government approved the purchase of 10 Toyota Land Cruisers V8 vehicles for Niger Republic.
The leaked document, which emanated from the Budget Office revealed the release of N1.145 billion to the office of the Accountant General of the Federation. The funds were to be made to Kaura Motors Nigeria Limited, supplier of the vehicles to the Nigerien government via its Fidelity Bank account.
According to reports, the Presidency of the Republic of Niger had requested logistic support from the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through a letter with Ref. 000104/PRN/DIRCAB, dated January 20, 2022.
Thereafter, President Buhari approved the release of fund on February 22, this year for the vehicles.
The President of Niger Republic, Mohammed Bazoum had since denied the free gift for his country.
Self But Unjustifiable Defense
Given the backlash generated by Nigerians over the unholy gesture, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed justified the decision of the federal government.
She said though Nigerians have the right to ask questions, that President Buhari, who approved the purchase also has the right to make his own assessment on situations and act accordingly.
Addressing journalists after the the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the minister stated that Nigeria has a policy of assisting her neighbours, as the gesture would strengthen the fight against insecurity.
On why the President made the hasty decision, she said, " 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.
"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", she added.
Similar Benevolence
Thousands of Nigerians had lost their lives to fatal crashes due to death traps on the roads. With the escalating unemployment crisis in Nigerian, many jobless youths settled for drugs and all forms of crimes to make ends meet.
Irrespective of the pitfalls, the federal government again, approved the construction of $1.96 billion Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project.
In February 2021, President Buhari 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 (FEC) in September 2020, was considered to be crucial to rail development in Nigeria and in the West African sub-region.
With 15 stations along the corridor, the project which is currently executed by Mota-Engil Group, a multinational engineering and construction company, is expected to bolster economic activities in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states in Nigeria, likewise Maradi in Niger Republic.
Nigerians Speak
Since the expose of the unimaginable gesture, Nigerians have expressed disappointment with the federal government and its inability to tackle insurgency in the country.
A coalition of Nigerian Patriots at home and in Diaspora, Dream Nigeria Movement, (DNM) reiterated it’s earlier call for the National Assembly members to rescue Nigeria from the Buhari-led administration.
The group enjoined Nigeria Senators to remove the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan to enable the legislators to commence impeachment proceedings against Buhari, describing him as a clog on the wheels of the progress of Nigeria.
The group wondered why President Buhari should be charitable to the neigbouring country despite the prolonged ASUU strike, saying that he displayed high level of insensitivity to the plights of Nigerians students.
A Twitter user @classic_buddie wrote: “Is this true? A nation borrowing to pay salaries is buying vehicles worth N1.4 billion for Niger Republic and also donate to Afghanistan! Waste in governance, yet the masses are put through hardship with increased cost of living. Make it make sense… Latest Land Cruisers ooo!”.
Lending her voice, a human right activist, Mrs Martha Udekwe described Nigeria as a failed state, saying that there is a need for the British government to recolonise the country again.
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