Atiku Challenges Tinubu to Publish Chassis Numbers of N15.13bn SUVs

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to release full details of the 39 Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for which ₦15.13 billion was allocated in the 2026 Federal Budget.

In a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said Nigerians deserve complete information about the procurement process and should not be left with unanswered questions over the expenditure.

The former vice president, who is also the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said an analysis by public accountability organisation Tracka had raised concerns over the allocation.

According to him, the report showed that ₦15.13 billion was budgeted for the purchase of 39 SUVs, putting the average cost of each vehicle at about ₦387 million.

Atiku said if the vehicles had already been purchased, the Federal Government should release the make, model, year of manufacture, supplier, contract details and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), commonly known as the chassis number, for each of the 39 vehicles.

He added that if the procurement had not been completed, the government should explain why the process remained unfinished despite the fiscal year being well advanced.

The former vice president questioned what type of vehicles could justify such a price, mentioning luxury brands such as Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus, Ferrari Purosangue, Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600, Aston Martin DBX, Range Rover SV, Brabus G-Class, Cadillac Escalade V and Lexus LX 700h.

He argued that if none of those high-end luxury vehicles was purchased, the government should explain the basis for the amount allocated per unit.

Atiku also said the issue raises broader concerns about accountability in government, questioning whether the President carefully examined the budget before approving it.

He maintained that once a president signs a budget into law, responsibility for its contents rests with the presidency and cannot be shifted elsewhere.

The former vice president also referred to Tracka’s report, which identified ₦947.70 billion allocated to 2,579 empowerment projects in the same budget.

He called on the government to disclose the locations of the projects, identify the beneficiaries, explain how contractors were selected and provide details of how implementation would be monitored.

Atiku said the government has repeatedly asked Nigerians to make sacrifices through policies such as fuel subsidy removal, electricity tariff increases and higher taxes, making transparency in public spending even more necessary.

He urged the administration to publish all procurement documents, invoices, supplier information and the chassis numbers of the vehicles, insisting that public funds belong to Nigerians and every expenditure should be fully accounted for.