Donation of SUV’s to Niger Republic does not fall within Nigeria’s obligation – Shehu Sani knocks Buhari

Former federal lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has criticised the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government for donating vehicles worth N1.14 billion to the neighbouring Niger Republic.

In a tweet via his Twitter handle on Thursday, Sani insisted that the donation was not in line with Nigeria’s obligation to support her neighbouring countries for national security reasons.

Sani tweeted, “Nigeria has an obligation to support her neighbours namely Benin, Niger, Chad and Cameroon for regional security and our own national security interest.

“The Federal Government’s Purchase and donations of luxury Toyota SUVs to Niger Republic doesn’t fall in line with the above.”

The Nigerian government, through the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, had on Wednesday evening, confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the purchase and donation of vehicles, worth N1.14 billion, to the neighbouring Niger Republic, to address its security challenges

According to Ahmed, it is to aid Niger in the acquisition of some operational vehicles.

Ahmed said though Nigerians have the right to question the rationale for such donation, Buhari, who approved the purchase, also has the right to make his own assessment of situations and act accordingly.