El-Rufai Allegedly Collected N10m Each From Local Govts For Security During Buhari’s Visit

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has received some backlash following the official visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the state on Thursday.

According to SaharaReporters, El-Rufai allegedly demanded money from all Local Government Areas in the state for the provision of security and logistics for the president’s visit to inaugurate some projects.

The governor made the demand in a letter dated January 19, 2022, and signed by the Director Inspectorate of the Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Iliyasu Hussaini.

The letter, which was addressed to local government chairmen in the state, stated that each council was ordered to pay N10million while Zaria LGA was asked to pay N15million.

The local governments asked to pay for the President’s visit are; Jema’a , Kaura, Zango Kataf, Chikun, Kaduna South, Igabi, Zaria, Sabon Gari, Giwa and Soba.

According to the letter titled, “Approval to Provide Security Towards The President’s Visit” read, “I am directed to convey approval for the following local government to incur expenditure to cater for additional security support to security agencies and logistics preparatory to the visit of the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Kaduna State for commissioning of projects.

“You are requested to ensure strict compliance with budgetary provisions, financial rules and regulations on the expenditures.”

In a related development, President Buhari has apologised to Governor El-Rufai for taking his loyalty for granted all these years.

Buhari, who gave the apology during the inauguration of some projects in the state on Thursday, commended the governor for the achievements recorded by his government.

The Nigerian leader asserted that the governor was “writing history in letters of gold” by completing people-oriented projects in the Kaduna metropolis and other parts of the North West state.