‘Financial recklessness’- South, middle belt youths hit FG over $1m donation to Afghanistan

Youths of southern and middle belt Nigeria under the umbrella of the Coalition of Southern and Middle Belt Youth Leaders Assembly, have criticized the federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari over its donation of $1m to Afghanistan, calling it ‘financial recklessness.’

The said donation had ignited controversy after the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) thanked Buhari for his donation to Afghanistan, which is currently under the control of the Taliban considered as an extremist group by many countries.

The assembly, which is the umbrella body of all the youth groups in the South East, South-South, South West, and Middle Belt regions noted that it was unfortunate that the government would make such move at a time the Nigerian economy is in financial comatose.

This was contained in a press release signed by Hon. Goodluck Egwu Ibem, Terrence Kuanum, Shittu Waheed, and Tito Zokumor for the body.

They regretted that the donation was coming when Nigeria “can barely execute any single project or pay mere salaries and pensions without borrowing to do so.”

According to the youths, this is gross insensitivity and financial recklessness on the part of the Federal Government to make such donations at a time like this. We are totally disappointed, to say the least.

“It is common knowledge that Nigeria is currently on financial oxygen to survive and we cannot be pretending about it because the information is already in public domain,” the youths said.

“The Federal Government openly told Nigerians that there is no money in our purse to fulfill the financial promises it made to Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU. We now ask the FG, where did the money donated to Afghanistan emanate from?

“The donation as we were told by the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic cooperation, OIC Hissein Ibrahim Taha, was for easing the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and to help in catering for the needs of millions of Afghan people including women and children.

“We then ask the federal government how much has it donated to the Nigerian Internally Displaced Persons in Benue State. The answer is none.

“We call on the National Assembly to immediately make a law that will bring on board eminent financial advisors and experts that will scrutinize and approve every financial donation or commitment of the federal government to other nations to avoid a situation where the commonwealth of our country will be donated to other nations on the altar of religious affiliation or friendship.”