Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, has explained why President Muhammadu Buhari purchased ten vehicles for the Niger Republic.
A journalist named David Hundeyin released a document on Wednesday revealing how Mr Buhari approved N1.4 billion on February 28, 2022 for the purchase of ten Toyota Land Cruiser V8 vehicles for the Nigerien government.
The documents sparked outrage among Twitter users, with many wondering why a foreign entity would be funded while Nigerian students are still on strike.
Mrs Ahmed explained to State House correspondents shortly after the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting in Abuja that the intervention was to help the country combat insecurity.
"Let me just say that, over time, Nigeria has had to support its neighbors, particularly its immediate neighbors, in strengthening their capacity to secure their countries in relation to us," she said.
"This is not the first time Nigeria has supported Niger, Cameroon, or Chad, and the President assesses what is required based on their president's request."
"And such requests are approved, and the interventions provided are to strengthen their capacity to protect their own territory in terms of security, which also applies to Nigeria."
"Nigerians have the right to ask questions, but the President also has the responsibility to determine what is best for the country." And I cannot call that decision into question."