Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Tinubu administration to disclose full details of the ₦15.13 billion appropriated in the 2026 Federal Budget for the procurement of 39 Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs).
Speaking on Thursday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate said Nigerians deserved transparency rather than secrecy over the expenditure.
Referencing an analysis by public accountability organisation Tracka, Atiku said the budget allocation equates to about ₦387 million for each vehicle, raising serious concerns about value for money.
“Tracka’s analysis shows that ₦15.13 billion was budgeted for the procurement of 39 SUVs. That translates to an astonishing ₦387 million per vehicle.
“If those vehicles have already been procured, the government should immediately publish the make, model, year of manufacture, supplier, contract details and 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 questioned what type of vehicles could justify such a price, asking whether the government had purchased Rolls-Royce Cullinans, Bentley Bentaygas, Lamborghini Uruses, Ferrari Purosangues, Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600s, Aston Martin DBXs, Range Rover SVs, Brabus G-Class SUVs, Cadillac Escalade Vs or Lexus LX 700hs.
“If none of these ultra-luxury vehicles was purchased, then what exactly justifies such an extraordinary price tag?” he asked.
The former Vice President also questioned President Bola Tinubu’s oversight of the budget process.
“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,” Atiku stated.
He further noted that the same Tracka analysis identified ₦947.70 billion allocated to 2,579 empowerment projects, urging the government to disclose the locations of the projects, beneficiaries, contractor selection process and implementation plans.
According to him, a government that has urged Nigerians to endure economic hardship through subsidy removal, higher electricity tariffs and increased taxes must also be accountable for public spending.
“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.
“Public money belongs to the Nigerian people. Every kobo must be accounted for,” he added.
