Buhari rejected N10M food budget as president; ate beans, pap instead– Garba Shehu

Former spokesman to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Garba Shehu reveals that Buhari rejected a N10M budget, maintaining a modest diet throughout his eight years in office, often opting for simple meals like beans and pap.

He revealed this in his newly published book, Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience, describing Buhari as a leader who prioritized frugality and healthy eating.

According to Shehu, the incident occurred shortly after Buhari took office in 2015.

Upon learning about a proposed food budget of N10 million, the president ordered that it be slashed, reflecting his preference for cost-cutting and modest living.

He said …

“When they told him N10 million was needed, he screamed and demanded it be reduced. ‘Look at my table, what do I eat? How much does it cost?’

Most of the things he ate were very basic foods that are recognizable and associated with, and consumed by, the lower strata of Nigerian society — tuwo (dough-like dishes made from grains), pap, akara (bean cake), beans, wheat, plenty of salads, poultry, and mutton.”