The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has defended the federal government’s earmarking of N3.6 billion for the purchase of BMW cars in 2016.
Mohammed said on Wednesday, that the Muhammadu Buhari administration is extremely frugal and can’t be accused of extravagance.
In an attempt to justify the proposed purchase, the Minister said the budget proposal for the BMW cars could have been meant for the Conference Visitors Unit.
The Conference Visitors Unit is responsible for coordinating the logistics of visiting foreign leaders.
Speaking to journalists, Mohammed said: “It is quite possible that some of the BMW cars being referred to are for the use of the VIPs.”
“What I can assure you is that this government is very prudent in its spending. I can tell you that no minister bought a new car, all of us inherited the cars used by our predecessors. This is the last government that you can accuse of extravagance.”
Mohammed also urged the Peoples Democratic Party to name any member of the All Progressives Congress involved in the alleged misuse of security funds.
He described the calls by the PDP to constitute a truth commission to probe the utilisation of security funds as unnecessary.
The Minister said the truth commission is not needed, owing to the fact that all the confessions made by those involved in the alleged arms deal were undisputed.
“We do not see the nexus between the revelation coming out now and a truth commission,” Mohammed said, adding that the call by the PDP on the president to reveal the source of his campaign fund was wrongly directed.”
“What the PDP is looking for is just distractions. If there is any allegation against any member of the APC, make the allegation open. All we are hearing are whispers. If there is evidence provide them in the open.”
