The Presidency has dismissed
claims in some quarters that President Muhammadu Buhari spent a total of
N2.2billion during his four-day state visit to the United States of America.
In a statement issued by Garba
Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity said:
“Our attention has been drawn to an editorial published in the Nigerian Pilot
of August 2, 2015 and an earlier report in which the total cost of President
Muhammadu Buhari’s recent trip to the US was estimated at N2.2 billion.
Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity said:
“Our attention has been drawn to an editorial published in the Nigerian Pilot
of August 2, 2015 and an earlier report in which the total cost of President
Muhammadu Buhari’s recent trip to the US was estimated at N2.2 billion.
“It is very sad that in this age
of free-flowing information and in this era of ‘CHANGE’, a media organisation
would make itself available as a vehicle to peddle a lie of such low and
ignominious quality. Continue…
of free-flowing information and in this era of ‘CHANGE’, a media organisation
would make itself available as a vehicle to peddle a lie of such low and
ignominious quality. Continue…
“Contrary to the newspaper’s
assertions, the total cost of the trip to the Nigerian taxpayer was at the most
minimal, in line with the policy of this administration to cut waste and
extravagance.
assertions, the total cost of the trip to the Nigerian taxpayer was at the most
minimal, in line with the policy of this administration to cut waste and
extravagance.
“In point of fact, the total
amount expended on the trip by the Office of the President amounted to nothing
near ten per cent of the speculated figure.
amount expended on the trip by the Office of the President amounted to nothing
near ten per cent of the speculated figure.
“Owing to the free accommodation
provided by the host government, all the personal staff who accompanied the
President on the trip received reduced allowances.
provided by the host government, all the personal staff who accompanied the
President on the trip received reduced allowances.
“His son, Yusuf, received neither
allowances nor estacode. The five Governors on the trip each paid his own way.
Permanent Secretaries who traveled on the delegation did so in accordance with
extant rules and none of them exceeded their estacode entitlements.
allowances nor estacode. The five Governors on the trip each paid his own way.
Permanent Secretaries who traveled on the delegation did so in accordance with
extant rules and none of them exceeded their estacode entitlements.
“Apart from the Nigerian Pilot’s
mischievous mathematics, it is shortsighted and misleading of the newspaper to
have claimed that President Buhari’s trip to the US achieved nothing.
mischievous mathematics, it is shortsighted and misleading of the newspaper to
have claimed that President Buhari’s trip to the US achieved nothing.
“Nigerian-US relations had
suffered severely over the past few years. That relationship has now been
reset. The benefits of this symbiotic relationship will become more and more
evident as the Buhari administration continues to tackle the challenges of
corruption, security and the economy.
suffered severely over the past few years. That relationship has now been
reset. The benefits of this symbiotic relationship will become more and more
evident as the Buhari administration continues to tackle the challenges of
corruption, security and the economy.
“Some of the more immediate
benefits of the President’s trip to the US include: the proposed $2.1 billion
fund from the World Bank for the re-development of the northeast battered by
Boko Haram; $5 billion from US investors in Nigeria’s agriculture sector; $1.5
billion investment in the Nigerian health sector; and another $5 billion
investment from the US in our country’s power sector.
benefits of the President’s trip to the US include: the proposed $2.1 billion
fund from the World Bank for the re-development of the northeast battered by
Boko Haram; $5 billion from US investors in Nigeria’s agriculture sector; $1.5
billion investment in the Nigerian health sector; and another $5 billion
investment from the US in our country’s power sector.
“Also, as things stand at the
moment, the embargo on the sale of weapons sales to Nigeria is in the process
of being removed.
moment, the embargo on the sale of weapons sales to Nigeria is in the process
of being removed.
“The trip to the US by President
Buhari was definitely very successful and beneficial to Nigeria. Only those
rabidly determined to find faults unnecessarily will cook up falsehood in a
futile effort to rake up murk where none exists,” Shehu said.
Buhari was definitely very successful and beneficial to Nigeria. Only those
rabidly determined to find faults unnecessarily will cook up falsehood in a
futile effort to rake up murk where none exists,” Shehu said.
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