The ministry of information was said to have spent N19 million on international travels before the outbreak of COVID-19.
This was disclosed by the minister of information, Lai Mohammed, during the ministry budget’s defence at the national assembly on Tuesday 4th of November 2020.
A member of the senate committee on information, Francis Onyewuchi (PDP, Imo), demanded a further explanation from the ministry on how his ministry spent that amount on international amid the disruption caused by Covid-19.
“On International travels and transport, you had N43 million and you expended N19 million. So I am wondering, this period of lockdown where nobody was able to go to any country, how were you able to embark on international travels and you expended N19 million? Tell us here in parliament how you were able to do that?
The senator continued, “Most part of the year we had travel restrictions. I am sure you will remember you did a lot of enlightenment programme on this and I am sure you will remember that most of us were prevented from moving into other states, so I don’t know how you also had the luxury of spending the entire amount that was appropriated on those travels. So those are the information we need to get from your expenditure”.
In his reply, Mr Mohammed explained that the amount was spent when officials of his ministry travelled for international summits that were held before the lockdown in March.
“You will notice that N43 million was budgeted but less than 40 per cent was spent, precisely because of the COVID-19. And before then, remember that we had travelled to attend several international summits starting from the conference, UNESCO in Spain, in the UK. We have done advocacy in the UK at the same time.
“All before the lockdown. I think our last trip was actually in Addis Ababa when we accompanied the President to the AU. That was about March before the lockdown. The lockdown came at the end of March. So whatever we spent here was before the lockdown”, the minister added.