So today, Nigerians are outraged over the purchase of two armoured vehicles for Stella Oduah’s  safety. Said vehicles cost over 250 million naira (About 1.6 million dollars). See Sahara’s report here.

I understand the outrage, and I would share it if I knew:

1. What is the annual budget of the “cash-strapped” Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority?
2. How do we know they’re cash-strapped?
3. Was this purchase included in the budget for 2013?
4. Was the budget approved by the Senate?
5. Did the Senate know she was going to buy the cars with the NCAA’s budget?
6. Knowing this, did they approve?
7. If they neither knew nor approved of the cars’ purchase, what was this money earmarked for originally? Has that activity been done? Is it pending?
8. Money cannot buy air safety, can it? Someone please explain to me how this money increases the risk of me boarding a plane that will crash?

I’m sincerely curious about these things. This is not an attempt to ridicule anyone. I just need to know why I should care. So I can join in the outrage. Please, I really would like answers.

Thank you.