Former Vice President of Nigeria and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has challenged the Tinubu administration to immediately come clean on the 39 Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for which ₦15.13 billion was appropriated in the 2026 Federal Budget, saying Nigerians deserve facts, not secrecy.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the analysis by public accountability organisation Tracka has raised serious questions that can only be answered through full disclosure.
“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 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.”
Atiku said that at ₦387 million per SUV, Nigerians are entitled to ask whether the government purchased Rolls-Royce Cullinans, Bentley Bentaygas, Lamborghini Urus, 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?”
The former Vice President said the controversy also raises a more fundamental question about leadership and accountability.
“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 noted that the same Tracka analysis identified ₦947.70 billion for 2,579 empowerment projects, saying Nigerians equally deserve to know where those projects are located, who the beneficiaries are, how contractors were selected, and how implementation will be monitored.
“This is a government that has consistently preached sacrifice to Nigerians—removing fuel subsidy, increasing electricity tariffs, imposing higher taxes and asking citizens to endure unprecedented hardship. It cannot, in the same breath, expect Nigerians to remain silent over expenditures that raise legitimate questions about value for money.
“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”.
*Signed:
Phrank Shaibu
Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to Atiku Abubakar. Vice President of Nigeria 1999-2007 and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress
