The Oyo State Government has dismissed a report by Sahara Reporters alleging that the state spent ₦683.7 million on the purchase of two vehicles, describing the claim as false and a misrepresentation of official financial records.
In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the government explained that the ₦683.7 million figure cited in the report was not a vehicle procurement cost. According to the statement, the amount appeared under the budget line, “Advertisement and Publicity Awareness for the Public.”
The government said the budget line represented a programme-level expenditure covering several activities and logistics, adding that the Toyota Camry and Toyota Hiace mentioned in the report were only components of the programme and were not purchased for ₦683.7 million.
It further noted that Sahara Reporters’ own publication admitted that the audited financial statement did not provide a breakdown of the amount spent on the two vehicles, did not state their individual prices and did not indicate whether other expenses were included. The government therefore described the headline as inconsistent with the actual contents of the document.
According to the government, the audited statement contained separate vehicle procurement figures which it said reflected normal pricing. These included a 2015 Toyota Coaster 30-seater bus at ₦140 million, a 2021 Toyota Hiace Hummer Bus at ₦156.95 million, and Toyota Corolla vehicles listed at ₦28.98 million and ₦50.71 million.
The government argued that the figures made it illogical to claim that ₦683 million was spent specifically on a 2004 Toyota Camry and a 10-seater Hiace bus. It maintained that no line item in the audited financial statement supported the allegation that the two vehicles cost ₦683.7 million.
The Oyo State Government reaffirmed the commitment of the Seyi Makinde administration to transparency, accountability and responsible financial management. It said its audited financial statements are publicly available and prepared in line with statutory requirements, while welcoming legitimate scrutiny based on facts.
The government urged media organisations to uphold professional standards and avoid sensational reporting or misrepresentation of official documents, stressing that the claim of ₦683.7 million spent on two vehicles was “false, misleading, and inconsistent” with the financial records cited.
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