Chairman of the Senate Committee on Special Duties, Senator Kaka Shehu, has rejected the proposed allocation of N127 million for the purchase of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for the Presidential Villa, describing the amount as unrealistic and unacceptable.
Speaking during a budget defence session in Abuja on Wednesday, Shehu argued that the proposed sum would be insufficient to procure vehicles that meet the required security and diplomatic standards expected at the Presidential Villa.
While commending President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda and the administration’s approach to treating the Villa like other ministries in the budgeting process, the senator maintained that certain provisions must reflect Nigeria’s status and security demands.
“The Renewed Hope agenda of President Tinubu is alive. We are happy that even the Villa is being treated equally with other ministries. That is leadership by example,” Shehu stated.
He, however, expressed strong reservations about the N127 million allocation for SUVs, noting that such an amount would not be adequate to purchase even a bulletproof foreign-used vehicle.
“I will join my colleague in rejecting N127 million for SUVs in the Villa. It cannot buy even a bulletproof ‘tokunbo’. We must project the image of Nigeria positively in the committee of nations,” he said.
Shehu emphasized that the country must avoid situations where official vehicles used for presidential duties fall short of expected standards, particularly during high-level diplomatic engagements.
He called on the Budget Office to review its proposal and ensure that future submissions accurately reflect prevailing market realities and security requirements.
“So, the Budget Office must sit up. When you send your proposal, you have to do justice to your request, not reduce it to an amount that would end up buying a ‘tokunbo’,” he added.
