The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has challenged President Bola Tinubu to publish the procurement details of 39 Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) valued at ₦15.13 billion in the 2026 Federal Budget or admit that Nigerians have been shortchanged.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said findings by public accountability organisation, Tracka, indicating that the allocation translates to about ₦387 million per vehicle, had raised serious questions that the Federal Government must answer.
According to the former Vice President, if the vehicles have already been purchased, the government should immediately disclose the make, model, year of manufacture, suppliers, contract details and Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs), commonly known as chassis numbers, of all 39 SUVs.
“If those vehicles have already been procured, the government should immediately publish the make, model, year of manufacture, supplier, contract details and the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), popularly known as the chassis number, of each of the 39 vehicles.
“If the procurement is still ongoing, Nigerians deserve to know why, nearly eight months into the fiscal year, such an expensive purchase has not been concluded,” he said.
Atiku listed several ultra-luxury SUVs—including the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus, Ferrari Purosangue, Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600, Aston Martin DBX, Range Rover SV, Brabus G-Class, Cadillac Escalade V and Lexus LX 700h—arguing that Nigerians deserved to know whether any of those premium vehicles were purchased at the stated cost.
“If none of these ultra-luxury vehicles was purchased, then what exactly justifies such an extraordinary price tag?” he queried.
The ADC presidential candidate also questioned President Tinubu’s approval of the budget, asking whether the President thoroughly scrutinised the figures before signing the appropriation bill into law.
“What manner of President signs a budget with figures like these into law without demanding rigorous scrutiny? Was the President asleep at the wheel while the budget was being prepared, or did he knowingly approve allocations that now require public explanation?
“Either possibility should worry every Nigerian. A President cannot proudly sign a budget into law and then pretend to have no responsibility when glaring questions arise. The buck stops on his desk,” he said.
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Beyond the SUV allocation, Atiku cited Tracka’s report that ₦947.70 billion was budgeted for 2,579 empowerment projects, insisting that the Federal Government should also disclose the locations of the projects, the identities of beneficiaries, the contractors handling them and the monitoring mechanisms for implementation.
He linked his demand for accountability to the economic hardship Nigerians have endured under the current administration.
“The easiest way to silence suspicion is transparency. Publish the procurement documents. Publish the invoices. Publish the suppliers. Publish the chassis numbers.
“If the figures are genuine, the documents will speak for themselves. If they are not, Nigerians deserve to know who turned the procurement of 39 SUVs into a ₦15.13 billion scandal,” he said.
Atiku maintained that public funds belong to Nigerians and must be fully accounted for.
“Public money belongs to the Nigerian people. Every kobo must be accounted for,” he declared.
