Some Nigerians have criticised the reported donation of seven brand-new 2026 Toyota Prado SUVs to youth leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, amid concerns over the rising cost of living.
Dayo Israel, the APC national youth leader, disclosed the donation in a video posted on X on Sunday. The footage showed seven SUVs parked in a row, which he said would support election mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Today, I presented brand new 2026 Prado to my committed selected youth leaders to aid their election mobilisation activities,” Israel said.
He expressed gratitude to the First Lady for her continued support for the party’s youth structure, adding that the group would work to secure votes at polling units across the country.
The announcement sparked criticism on X, with several users questioning the expenditure on luxury vehicles amid widespread economic hardship and rising food prices.
One user, @Unkleayo, criticised the distribution, describing it as a misuse of public resources and questioning the cost of the vehicles. However, the post did not establish that public funds were used to purchase them.
Another user, @harmlessHQ, drew a contrast between the donation and President Bola Tinubu’s recent remarks blaming the opposition for hunger and hardship in Nigeria.
Similarly, @iamchibuzoree questioned the reported spending on the SUVs, citing concerns about funding for healthcare workers, while @ayshaHamman asked how many primary healthcare centres could be built with the money spent on the seven vehicles.
Other users accused the party’s leadership of being disconnected from the struggles of ordinary Nigerians, arguing that the display could undermine public confidence amid the economic difficulties facing households.
The controversy followed Tinubu’s remarks at the APC presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna on Saturday, where he blamed the opposition for the hunger and poverty Nigerians are experiencing. The President said his administration was working to address the problems.
