Bruce: Many Nigerians can’t afford food — yet N40m budgeted for Aso Rock wildlife
Ben Bruce, senator representing Bayelsa east, says it’s heartbreaking that at a time many Nigerians can’t afford to eat, N40 million in the 2017 budget was designated for the feeding of wild animals in the presidential villa.
In a couple of tweets on Thursday night, Bruce said at N510 to a dollar, it has reached a stage where buying made in Nigeria commodities is a necessity.
“It breaks my heart that at a time when many Nigerians can’t eat we are budgeting N40 million to feed wildlife in Aso Rock Presidential Villa,” he tweeted.
“At N510 to a dollar, #BuyNaijaToGrowTheNaira is no luxury, it is not even a necessity. Nigeria has reached the stage where it’s a necessity.”
It breaks my heart that at a time when many Nigerians cant eat we are budgeting ₦40 million to feed wildlife in Aso Rock Presidential Villa!
— Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) February 16, 2017
At ₦510 to a dollar, #BuyNaijaToGrowTheNaira is no luxury, it is not even a necessity. Nigeria has reached the stage where it's a necessity!
— Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) February 16, 2017
The senator has been openly critical of the 2017 budget proposal.
“Recurrent expenditure is still 70 to 75 percent, that has not changed, Nigeria will not develop that way, [we should] reduce it by 50 percent so that we can put in capital projects,” Bruce had said during the debate on the 2017 appropriation bill.
He also said the benchmark of N305 to a dollar was not realistic because at the “black market”, naira was about N500 to a dollar.
When IPOB said it we mocked them, Nigeria is a ZOO and the wildest animals are kept in the Aso Rock Zoo.
This unbelievable! So has the ecosystem in that wild been destroyed? Please someone should confirm this budget allocation does not exist.
You are really professional and wonderful. Great!
What is 40 million naira a year for feeding Aso rock wildlife compared with a senator’s monthly humongous allowance?He should stop pretending that he loves the masses jare!
Perfect response…..
Why is he sounding righteous. Why is he not talking about the huge amount of money wasted on senators every month. Hope he knows how many nigerian unemployed graduates that can benefit from 50% of a senator’s allowance each month. Mtcheeww