Senator Kaka Shehu has rejected the proposed N127 million budget for the purchase of SUVs for the Presidential Villa, describing the amount as unacceptable.
Shehu, who chairs the Senate Committee on Special Duties, spoke on Wednesday in Abuja during the budget defence session on the 2026 budget proposal.
He praised President Bola Tinubu for ensuring the Villa is treated like other government agencies in budget planning.
“The renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu is alive. We are happy that even the villa is being treated equally with other ministries. That is leadership by example,” he said.
However, he argued that the N127 million allocation is too small to buy a secure vehicle for the Presidency.
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“However, I will join my colleague in rejecting N127 million for SUV in the villa; it cannot buy even a bulletproof ‘tokunbo’,” he said.
Shehu warned that such a situation could affect Nigeria’s image during official visits.
“We don’t want a situation where a visiting president will use ‘tokunbo’ at the airport. No,” he added.
He also blamed the Budget Office for cutting down the original request from the State House.
“So, the budget office must sit up… not by reducing it to an amount that would end up buying a ‘tokunbo’,” he said.
The comment comes as Nigerians continue to react to the N58.18 trillion 2026 budget, with many questioning government spending amid rising economic hardship.