Niger Republic denies reports it received 10 vehicles from Nigeria's federal government

NIGER Republic has denied receiving 10 vehicles from Nigeria following the recent outrage after it emerged that President Muhammadu Buhari spent N1.15bn ($2.74m) of Nigeria's money on buses which were donated to the country's northern neighbour.

Over the last week, there has been a lot of consternation that President Buhari has spent that much buying vehicles for a neighbouring country at a time when Nigeria is going through a serious domestic cash crunch. As criticism over the gesture mounts, Alkassoum Indatou, Niger Republic's defence minister has denied receiving any such vehicles from Nigeria.

According to Mr Indatou, only Zamfara State that has come to the aid of Niger Republic  with five vehicles mainly on account of the repeated efforts of Nigerien forces in safeguarding its borders from terrorists. After journalist David Hundeyin broke the story of how President Buhari approved the purchase of 10 vehicles for Niger Republic, Zainab Ahmed, Nigeria's finance minister admitted the development, saying that it was the president’s prerogative to do so.

However, Mr Indatou said the only Nigerian official to give Niger Republic vehicles was Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State who handed five Hilux vans to the regional government of Maradi. Speaking on behalf of the President of Niger Republic, he said there is no truth whatsoever in the rumours of the latest donation.

Mr Indatou added: “It is only the state of Zamfara which has given five vehicles to the Maradi region, four of which have already been received and it is not the federal government as the Nigerian finance minister Zainab Ahmed declared.  The population of Zamfara who are on the border with Niger call more on Nigerien soldiers who respond to them even more than those of their own country.”