The Oyo State Government has debunked a report by Sahara Reporters alleging that the state spent ₦683.7 million on the procurement of two vehicles — a 2004 Toyota Camry and a 10-seater Toyota Hiace bus.
The government described the report as false and misleading, saying the publication was based on a misinterpretation of an official financial document.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the government explained that the ₦683.7 million figure appeared under the budget line, “Advertisement and Publicity Awareness for the Public,” and was not a vehicle procurement cost.
According to the statement, the amount represented programme-level expenditure covering multiple activities and components, with the vehicles referenced in the report serving only as part of the programme’s logistics.
The government noted that the audited financial statement did not assign ₦683.7 million to the two vehicles in question.
It further pointed out that Sahara Reporters’ own publication acknowledged that the document did not provide a breakdown of the amount spent on the Toyota Camry and Hiace bus, did not state their individual prices and did not indicate whether other expenses were included.
Despite these qualifications, the government said the publication carried a headline suggesting that the entire ₦683.7 million was spent on the two vehicles.
The statement also cited other vehicle procurement figures contained in the audited statement, including ₦140 million for a 30-seater Toyota Coaster (2015 model), ₦156.95 million for a Toyota Hiace Hummer Bus (2021 model), and ₦28.98 million and ₦50.71 million for Toyota Corolla vehicles from 2019/2020.
“These figures demonstrate that the government’s procurement practices follow standard pricing. It is therefore illogical to suggest that the state paid ₦683m for a 2004 Camry and a 10-seater Hiace,” the statement said.
The government described the Sahara Reporters headline as a distortion based on assumption rather than evidence, stressing that no line item in the audited financial statement supports the claim that ₦683.7 million was spent on the two vehicles.
It said the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde remained committed to transparency, accountability and responsible financial management, adding that its audited financial statements were publicly available and prepared in accordance with statutory requirements.
“We welcome scrutiny, but such scrutiny must be grounded in facts,” the statement added.
The government urged media organisations to uphold professional standards and avoid misrepresenting official financial documents.
