Public Relations firm for 2 million dollars (N612 million) per month.
The Director of Information, Ministry of Finance, Mr Salisu Dambatta,
in a statement on Wednesday, said a PR consultant was hired by the
Federal Government, as part of the Eurobond programme.
“The Public Relations firm, Africa Practice, has been retained by the
Federal Government on the approval of the Federal Executive Council to
work with the Debt Management Office as part of the Eurobond programme
for a three-year period alongside four other firms.
“This followed a competitive tender that was advertised and due
process was fully followed and was publicly announced earlier this
year.
“The representative of Africa Practice was in Washington DC in
continuation of the Eurobond programme and in support of the country’s
outreach with international investors who showed great enthusiasm to do
business with Nigeria.
“However, the false reports have not dimmed the successful
participation of the Nigerian delegation in the World Bank and IMF
Spring meetings, nor questioned the obvious gains made by Nigeria in the
course of the meetings,” he said.
The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, was widely criticised for
allegedly hiring an expensive British firm to do public relations for
her at the monthly cost of 2 million dollars.
At the just concluded IMF/World Bank Spring meetings in Washington
DC, the consultant was said to be constantly at her side, hindering
Nigerian journalists’ access to the minister, except foreign press.
