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Nigeria Budget Criticized for Excessive Expenses


FILE - Labour unionists march in the streets of Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, to protest the soaring cost of living under the West African nation's new president, with calls for the government to improve social welfare interventions to reduce hardship.
FILE - Labour unionists march in the streets of Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, to protest the soaring cost of living under the West African nation's new president, with calls for the government to improve social welfare interventions to reduce hardship.

ABUJA — Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has signed into law a $2.8 billion supplementary budget that includes funding for new bulletproof cars for himself and his wife, despite widespread criticism from citizens facing a cost-of-living crisis.

The budget, which was approved by lawmakers on November 2, also includes allocations for a presidential yacht, official vehicles for the first lady's office, and renovations to the president's residential quarters.

The spending plan was initially proposed by Tinubu as a means to address "urgent issues" such as defense and security. The presidency defended the provision for the yacht, describing it as an operational naval boat with specialized security gadgets.

FILE - Pedestrians shop at a street market in Lagos, Nigeria, on Sept. 7, 2022. Nigeria's consumer inflation surged to a 17-year high in August 2022, its statistics agency said on Sept.15, 2022. Inflation was close to 26 percent in September 2023.
FILE - Pedestrians shop at a street market in Lagos, Nigeria, on Sept. 7, 2022. Nigeria's consumer inflation surged to a 17-year high in August 2022, its statistics agency said on Sept.15, 2022. Inflation was close to 26 percent in September 2023.

However, specific allocations for such areas have been overshadowed by the allocation of funds for items seen as luxuries items and on renovations for the president's residential quarters.

Opponents of the budget have argued that the spending is unnecessary and insensitive to the plight of ordinary Nigerians, who are struggling to make ends meet amid rising inflation and economic hardship.

Africa's most populous nation is grappling with double-digit inflation, foreign currency shortages, a weakening naira, widespread insecurity and crude oil theft.

Tinubu, who was elected in May, has been under pressure from unions to offer relief to households and workers. He has asked Nigerians to be patient with reforms.

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