Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to publicly disclose the chassis numbers, suppliers, contract documents and delivery records for the 39 Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) valued at ₦15.13 billion in the 2026 federal budget, warning that failure to do so would reinforce public suspicion of fraud.
The demand comes amid growing scrutiny of the 2026 Appropriation Act following analyses by civic accountability groups that questioned several budget allocations, including the provision for the procurement of official vehicles.
Atiku Demands Full Disclosure
In a statement issued through his media office, Atiku urged the Federal Government to publish comprehensive details relating to the SUV procurement, including:
- The chassis numbers of all 39 vehicles.
- The names of the suppliers and contractors.
- Contract award documents.
- Delivery records.
- The agencies expected to receive the vehicles.
According to him, releasing the information would demonstrate transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.
Questions Over ₦15.13 Billion Allocation
The challenge follows reports highlighting that the 2026 budget earmarked ₦15.13 billion for the purchase of 39 SUVs, representing part of a broader ₦962.83 billion allocation covering official vehicles and empowerment projects. Civic monitoring organisation Tracka said the combined allocation exceeds the budgets of several federal ministries.
Atiku argued that Nigerians deserve to know precisely how public funds are being spent, particularly at a time of economic hardship and rising cost of living.
Fresh Pressure on Budget Transparency
The latest criticism adds to a series of questions raised by the former vice president over the implementation of the 2026 budget, including previous calls for greater transparency regarding service-wide votes and other major appropriations.
As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency had not publicly responded to Atiku’s latest demand regarding the SUV procurement.