Soldiers earn peanuts, APC youth leader flaunts billion-naira SUVs — Utomi
Nigerian Professor Critiques APC’s Distribution of Luxury SUVs Amid Economic Challenges
Professor Pat Utomi has expressed concern over the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) recent distribution of luxury sport utility vehicles (SUVs) to selected youth leaders. His comments highlight a stark contrast between the expenditures on these vehicles and the low salaries paid to Nigerian soldiers.
Utomi, a prominent member of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), criticized the APC after a video surfaced showing an APC youth leader showcasing the expensive vehicles. He noted that this display comes at a time when the Nigerian government has claimed there are limited funds available.
In a post on social media platform X on Sunday, Utomi stated, “Nigerian soldiers are being paid peanuts as salaries, yet an APC youth leader is flaunting SUVs worth billions of naira. This is the same government that told Nigerians there was no longer any money in the treasury. At this point, they must think we are fools!”
Utomi further questioned the wisdom of spending such substantial amounts on luxury vehicles rather than investing in essential public services, particularly in the healthcare sector. He pointed out that the cost of each SUV exceeds ₦100 million, speculating on the potential benefits of allocating those funds to acquire ambulances and improve medical services instead.
“This expenditure raises an important question: How many world-class ambulances could we buy with the millions spent on these vehicles? What a pity!” he remarked.
These comments followed a video shared by Dayo Israel, the APC National Youth Leader, who announced the distribution of the 2026 Toyota Prado SUVs to aid election mobilization efforts ahead of the 2027 general elections. In his post, Israel conveyed gratitude to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu for her support of the party’s structure.
“The party is supreme, and that supremacy will show in our actions during this election period — we will deliver polling unit by polling unit,” he added.
The video, which has since been removed, sparked widespread criticism on social media, with many Nigerians questioning the appropriateness of such lavish spending amid ongoing economic difficulties linked to the Tinubu administration’s reforms.
Utomi’s remarks add to the growing discourse on the prioritization of public spending in Nigeria, bringing attention to the disparity between government claims of limited resources and actual expenditures on luxury items.
