The Nigerian Government purchased vehicles worth N1.4 billion to help Niger tackle insecurity, the country’s Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, has said.
Mrs. Ahmed told journalists on Wednesday in Abuja that providing intervention to the neighbouring Niger Republic was not new and that it was the prerogative of President Muhammadu Buhari, who approved the purchase.
According to her, President Buhari, has the right to make his own assessment of situations and give directives accordingly.
The report by Channel Television said that the minister made the clarification while responding to questions from journalists after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday in Abuja, regarding documents released on social media which showed that the President Buhari approved the release of the funds on February 22, 2022 for Niger Republic.
The report quoted the minister as saying 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 is also in the best interest of Nigeria.
Nigeria has been witnessing its worst security challenges in decades, with her military engaging Boko Haram insurgents for over a decade now, while terrorists and bandits are daily kidnapping and killing people across the country.
Following this poor security situation in the country, some Nigerian legislators have given a six-week ultimatum to President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the activities of these insurgents and bandits or face impeachment. This threat by the lawmakers has been supported by some eminent Nigerians, including the country’s Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka.
GIK/APA