A pro-Biafra group, the Igbo-Biafra Nationalists, IBN, has urged the Federal Government and the Anambra state government to be wary of reckless expenditures.
The group’s spokesperson, Edoziuno Chukwunonso, made the call in a statement on Saturday in Owerri, Imo State.
The group said it noticed misplacement in priorities in the activities of government, noting that if not addressed, the situation could hamper development.
The statement further said that the IBN and the Indigenous People of Igbo Nation for Self-determination, IPINS, stand united in expressing deep concerns over what they called insensitive and irresponsible style of governance exhibited by the Federal Government of Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu, which according to them, is regrettably mirrored by the Anambra State government.
According to the group, the reckless expenditures and misguided priorities of the administration highlight a glaring disregard for the economic, social, and psychological development of the Igbo people, who are still grappling with the effect of the civil war and alleged ongoing marginalization.
It added that revelations have exposed the Tinubu-led administration’s alarming expenditure patterns, with a staggering N244,654,350 spent on bulletproof tyres in a single day.
The IBN noted that documents sourced from govspend, a portal that tracks government expenditure, revealed that the payments were made on May 21, 2024, just days before the President’s one-year anniversary in office.
“Sums of N200,583,390, N38,070,000, and N6,000,960 were respectively paid to companies for the supply of the tyres, in spite of the harsh economic conditions and widespread poverty afflicting the nation.
“It is particularly troubling that such colossal amounts are allocated for non-essential items while Nigerians face severe economic hardships. This gross mis-allocation of funds underscores the administration’s disconnect from the pressing needs of the people, who require economic relief and sustainable development initiatives.
“In a similar vein, Anambra State has demonstrated a concerning lack of prioritization in its budgetary allocations. The 2024 budget, titled “Changing Gears: The Transformation Agenda Begins”, includes a N68.306 million allocation for maintaining the state’s Lagos and Abuja liaison offices. In stark contrast, only N46.2 million has been allocated for the maintenance of 264 secondary schools across the state, amounting to a meagre N175,000 per school,” the group said.
The IBN said that the disparity in funding was a clear indication of misplaced priorities, adding that the development and maintenance of educational institutions should be at the forefront of any government’s agenda, particularly in a region still recovering from the long-term impacts of conflict and marginalization.
It stated that the Igbo people deserve leaders who would invest in their future, not squander resources on non-essential expenditures.