Former President Muhammadu Buhari turned down a proposed ₦10 million food budget and refused to approve the purchase of new official vehicles during his time in office, opting instead for a modest lifestyle and using the cars left behind by his predecessor, former President Goodluck Jonathan.
This was revealed by Garba Shehu, Buhari’s former spokesperson, in his newly launched memoir titled “According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience,” which offers behind-the-scenes insight into governance during Buhari’s eight-year administration.
According to Shehu, shortly after Buhari assumed office in 2015, officials proposed increasing the State House food budget to ₦10 million to cover meals for the President, Vice President, guest houses, and official banquets. Buhari flatly rejected the suggestion.
“When they told him ₦10 million was needed, he screamed and demanded it be reduced,” Shehu wrote.
“Look at my table, what do I eat? How much does it cost?” Buhari reportedly asked.
Shehu described the former president’s diet as simple and healthy, mostly consisting of traditional Nigerian dishes.
“Most of the things he ate were very basic food that is recognisable and associated with the lower strata of Nigerian society: tuwo, pap, akara, beans, wheat, plenty of salads, poultry and mutton,” he added.
Shehu also disclosed that Buhari turned down a proposal to spend ₦400 million on five new customised Mercedes-Benz vehicles that had been approved by the previous administration.
“The proposal to buy the vehicles had been made at the twilight of President Jonathan’s administration,” he wrote.
“But Buhari asked, ‘What is wrong with the cars left behind by the former president?’ and added, ‘They are all right for my use.’”
Buhari reportedly continued using Jonathan’s official vehicles until one broke down en route to the airport, prompting a replacement. He also directed the State House Permanent Secretary, Nebolisa Emodi, to reduce operating costs and eliminate reliance on the so-called Presidential Intervention Funds.
“He instructed that all State House expenses must stay within the approved budget,” Shehu said.
The memoir also sheds light on the early days of Buhari’s presidency, noting that he spent months consulting with permanent secretaries and agency heads before appointing ministers a delay that sparked public criticism at the time.
In another account, Shehu recounted an incident during one of Buhari’s medical trips when Acting President Yemi Osinbajo was in charge. Some officials, excluding Osinbajo, allegedly approached the then-Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, to request a security vote.
“Malam Abba told them that the President kept nothing to that effect,” Shehu wrote, highlighting Buhari’s tight grip on public finances.
The memoir was officially launched in Abuja on Tuesday.
