The State House, under the dispensation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has spent over N3.7 billion on the purchase and supply of vehicles and tyres, findings by Daily Trust on Saturday have revealed.

Investigation and data gathered from govspend, a portal documenting government expenditures, showed that the Presidential Villa made four separate payments on May 21 and 31, the week that marked Tinubu’s first year in office, to Laralek Ultimate Limited, and another payment to an unspecified beneficiary, all totaling N3,461,909,471.

The total allocation for the State House is N40.62 billion, with only N28.12 billion of the entire amount for capital expenditure, according to data released by BudgIT, a civil society organisation whose goal is promoting transparency and fostering citizens’ engagement for institutional reforms and equitable society.

Over the years, Nigeria has leveraged its borrowing prowess, with its external debt currently sitting at N127.67 trillion as of Q1 of 2024.


However, critics have accused the Tinubu administration of “frivolous spending” despite numerous pleas to Nigeria’s citizens over the current hardship and harsh policies largely affecting the masses.

It could be recalled that there was a backlash the last time the president asked Nigerians to make sacrifices for the nation’s progress.

Recently, Tinubu, while addressing journalists after observing the Eid-el Kabir prayer at Dodan Barracks, Lagos, stressed the need for the people to follow the path of sacrifice in order to make the nation great.

The comment elicited numerous reactions from Nigerians, civil society organisations and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).


Incidentally, 24 hours after some of the payments for the cars and tyres were made, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, apologised to Nigerians over the nationwide hardship.

Speaking during a ministerial sectoral update, he said the policies of the Tinubu-led government were on track despite the currency crisis and inflation, which have frustrated economic growth.

“So what’s the answer to all of these? It’s to restore macroeconomic stability that will ensure that investors, both domestic and international put their faces in our economy once again. And we are all doing this without a blame game. And I apologise for the pain that they may occasion, but they are necessary… Is our strategy right? Absolutely. We believe our strategy is right, but it requires occasional calibration. Put good money to use,” he said.


Now, Nigeria’s inflation is above 33 per cent, worsening the cost of living – a stance largely attributed to some of the president’s policies.

The data from govspend showed that payments of the sums of N1,904,388,461, N1,200,000,000, N200,000,000 and N63,818,416 were all made to Laralek Ultimate Limited for the purchase of operational SUVs and pool vehicles for the State House, while N93,702,594.08 was paid for the supply of vehicles to the National Centre for the Coordination of Early Warning and Response Mechanism.

The full details of the car brands and models were not written in the narration made for the payments on the portal.


N244m spent on tyres in one day

The sum of N244,654,350 was specifically used for the purchase and supply of car tyres in just one day out of the total N3,706,563,821 spent by the State House, the data further revealed.

The same data from the govspend portal showed that on May 21, 2024, the State House made payments for the supply of an unspecified quantity of a particular brand of bulletproof tyres, another five quantities of a different brand of bulletproof tyres, and a Westlake tyre for the sums of N200,583,390, N38,070,000 and N6,000,960, respectively.


A breakdown of the findings revealed that two separate payments were made for the purchase and supply of tyres (no specific quantity) for bulletproof vehicles and another five armoured bulletproof tyres to Obi-Wealth Enterprises Nigeria Limited (RC-640684) for the sums of N200,583,390 and N38,070,000.

However, a quick search on the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) website revealed that the company is inactive.

State House may exceed its budget

The Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, a civil society organisation, Andrew Mamedu, while reacting to the purchases, warned that if the trend continued, the State House would exceed its budget, which will, in turn, affect its overall expenditure.

Mamedu added that the Tinubu-led administration needed to be more transparent, especially when providing a breakdown of specific expenditures.

He maintained that the sacrifices demanded by the federal government from citizens for the progress of the nation should be across the board, considering the current economic challenges.

“We are not against the buying of cars, but is purchasing them necessary?

“From the total vehicles they are buying, how many made-in-Nigeria vehicles are we patronising? About 80 per cent of this money leaves the country because all these vehicles are imported,” he stated.

However, attempts to get reactions from the presidency over the cars and tyre expenditures did not yield results, as several calls to the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, did not go through.

Also, messages sent to him via SMS and WhatsApp had not been replied to as at the time of filing this report.

Source:: https://dailytrust.com/How-State-House-Spent-N3.7-Billion-On-Vehicles-Tyres-Within-10-Days

Just like aside, before APC took over in 2015 they will be worse than PDP after 15 years

They're running Nigeria underground.

A simple google search shows Laralek ultimate limited is a construction company based in Lagos.

My question is, why is a construction company tasked with the responsibility of buying car tires?

I'm highly disappointed in Tinubu with the way and manner he's running Nigeria

This is the great Tinubulation.
Everyone should be ready cos the next 3 to 7 years won't be easy to the populace except God intervenes

Ok

Lmao

See how Helinues Yarimo Seunmsg Madridguy LegendHero Paraman FreestuffNG Trutharena Okoroawusa Mannabbq will avoid this thread like Corona.

Lovers of NIGERIA indeed.

Tinubu, a personification of Corruption

Tinubu, a personification of Corruption.
God punish him and his cronies.

So called people claims na only 62k wey they fit pay for minimum wage...when we ready for things to change for this country,we sabi wetin to do,now tribalism and religion dy use us play ludo

Is this different from the 244m or part of it?
What is surprising is that the administration is favoring Obi-Wealth. As in Obi?!! An ipob, bitter grieving Obidient is chopping from this Awalokan administration? Haba!!
Meanwhile, the minimum wage labour is asking for its not realistic and will lead to inflation
Ask seunmsg, LegendHero and helinues

We warned them about Tinubu, they didn't listen, what were they expecting from a man like Tinubu?

Kingsmeal:
Lmao

See how Helinues Yarimo Seunmsg Madridguy LegendHero Paraman FreestuffNG Trutharena Okoroawusa Mannabbq will avoid this thread like Corona.

Lovers of NIGERIA indeed.

people wey dn sell their conscience for 30k minimum wage..call better people abeg

Can you just imagine,this country is gone

Billions flying everywhere

But they're still debating on minimum wage






Oya agbadorians come and defend the drug lord on empty stomach

Una never ready, one day these folks go use 10 trillion buy toothpick.

and the ediotic wife whom Dino mocked had reached her menopause claimed they don't need Nigeria's money.

To whose purses are these billions going into.

Tinubu is calamity upon Nigeria and he's a timebomb waiting to explode.

Na so.

We dont have inflation because d pple are living so well,
We have inflation because the government are living soo well.

Normally i wonder if learneed pple are still supporti g this evil
Yes i called it evil gorvernment
I wonder how pple still praise d government

chai.. This is just so wrong. These guys are meant to serve and not to be served by using public funds to enrich themselves and make their life super comfortable.

Agbadorians!!!!!!

No one should be disappointed on a man with questionable personality.....he is simply living up to his reputation! you should be disappointed on online miscreants standing on a stolen mandate on empty stomach!

God1000:
I'm highly disappointed in Tinubu with the way and manner he's running Nigeria

We're our problem. Selfishness

Just too much frivolous spending....

This is nothing but peanuts! Tinubu and his bandwagon of thieves should empty our national treasury, borrow as much money as they like, mortgage the future of Nigeria. Nothing dey happen! The sycophants and tribal bigots should continue their praise-singing! All hail, Tinubu! All hail Tinubu!

Comrade abeg leave aunt kemi out of this! All blame and anger should be channeled to Asiwaju!

Bobbyjay001:
and the ediotic wife whom Dino nocked had reached her menopause claimed they don't need Nigeria's money.

To whose purses are these billions going into.

Tinubu is calamity upon Nigeria and he's a timebomb waiting to explode.

Hellenus, come and defend this now. GOD should please strike them all