Former President Muhammadu Buhari rejected a proposed N10 million monthly food budget and turned down the procurement of N400 million worth of luxury vehicles upon assuming office in 2015, a former presidential aide has revealed.
The disclosure was made by Garba Shehu, Buhari’s former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in his newly released memoir titled “According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience,” launched on Wednesday in Abuja.
Shehu, who served throughout Buhari’s eight-year tenure, described the former president as a leader who maintained a frugal and modest lifestyle even while occupying Nigeria’s highest political office.
Shortly after his inauguration, officials reportedly approached Buhari with a proposal to raise the food budget for the State House — covering meals for the President, Vice President, and official banquets — to N10 million monthly. But Buhari was said to have balked at the figure.
“When they told him N10 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.
According to Shehu, the former president largely stuck to a simple diet made up of local dishes such as tuwo, pap, akara, beans, and salads, reflecting his personal philosophy of modesty and restraint.
The book also reveals that Buhari refused to authorize the purchase of five customized Mercedes-Benz vehicles ordered during the final days of the Goodluck Jonathan administration. The vehicles, worth N400 million, had already been budgeted for and partially paid.
Instead, Buhari directed the then Permanent Secretary of the State House, Nebolisa Emodi, to cut costs and increase transparency.
“He asked, ‘What is wrong with the cars left behind by the former president?’ and insisted they were good enough for his use,” Shehu wrote.
Buhari reportedly continued to use the vehicles left by Jonathan’s administration until one of them broke down en route to the airport, prompting a reluctant replacement.
Shehu also noted that the former president spent his first few months in office engaging with permanent secretaries and heads of agencies to understand the complexities of governance — a process that delayed the appointment of ministers and drew public criticism.
The memoir offers an insider’s view of the Buhari administration and attempts to present the former leader as austere, disciplined, and focused on reducing the cost of governance.
While the revelations have sparked renewed debate over the former president’s leadership style, critics argue that personal frugality did not necessarily translate to broader fiscal discipline during his administration.
Nonetheless, the disclosures provide fresh insight into Buhari’s personality and his early days in office — a contrast to common perceptions of extravagance often associated with high political office in Nigeria.
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