The total cost of the vehicles is put at N400m.
Advertisement
A source connected to the Presidency told Punch journalists that President Buhari found out about the Aso Villa’s pending acquisition when the Permanent Secretary Nebolisa Emodi briefed him about the executive mansion’s activities.
Miffed by the revelation, the President was said to have told Emodi that the purchase was unnecessary. I went through all the major projects across the country and I emphasized the need of seeking other windows of funding outside of the national budget.
Buhari was quoted as saying that employment generation was one of his key campaign promises and that he would keep to the promise.
The permanent secretary of the ministry of works, Mr Dauda Kigbu, who led senior officials of relevant agencies under the ministry to meet with the president said that the outcome was very positive as the president was open to the ministry’s suggestion that that government should seek other ways of funding road projects.
Eminent industrialist and ex- governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for approving intervention funds to States as bailout to fulfill their obligations especially payment of staff salaries, which has been a challenge for most of the 36 States.
President Muhammadu Buhari will only receive 50 per cent of the salary paid to his predecessor, ex- President Goodluck. State House sources said the proposal to procure the new cars was first made to Jonathan before he left office.
Advertisement
The ex- President was however said to have directed that it be represented to Buhari for approval on his assumption of office since the cars could only be delivered some months after the May 29 handover date.
