News: A Whopping N94 Million Bullet-Proof Tyres Allocated For Sick Buhari

 Government is to spend N94.5 million on bullet-
proof tyres for President Muhammadu Buhari,
despite economic recession.

 The State House Permanent Secretary, Jalal A.
Arabi, made this disclosure during the
breakdown of the State House budget to the
Senate Committee on Federal Character and
Inter-Governmental Affairs.
The number of treated (bulletproof) tyres that
will be bought with the N94.5 million, was
however, not specified. Canteen and kitchen
equipment will cost N100.8 million.
 Arabi, explained that “some of the tyres being
purchased are actually treated (bulletproof)”,
and hence constituted the bulk of the purchase
cost.
For canteen and kitchen equipment, Arabi said
N100.8 million was provided for in the 2017
budget.
 He added: “This amount is principally the
unreleased appropriation for 2016, which was
the unpaid balance in 2015 for contracts
awarded and executed. The sum of N80.2
million appropriated in 2016, has up to this
moment not been released, hence its rollover
and inclusion in 2017.”
Arabi noted that it was important to mention
that the proposal covered kitchen equipment in
the main residence, the Vice President’s
residence, banquet hall, State House medical
centre, State House auditorium, and 22 guest
houses.
 The State House’s electricity bill for 2016,
according to the Abuja Electricity Distribution
Company (AEDC), was N252 million. Another
outstanding liability of over N300 million for
State House, Lagos facilities.
Arabi further noted, that the provision in the
2016 budget could not accommodate the
outstanding liability.
He said the management of the State House
was forced to install meters in 2016, to ensure
proper billing “and that was what reduced the
bill to a reasonable figure”.
 Arabi added, that since the bills were subject of
reconciliation, “we have made a modest
provision of the sum of N319.6 million for 2017,
to settle current and part of the outstanding are not above".