Former President Muhammadu Buhari maintained a frugal and healthy diet during his eight-year tenure, opting for basic meals like beans, pap, and akara while rejecting a proposed N10 million food budget, according to his former spokesman, Garba Shehu.

In his newly released book, Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience, Shehu revealed that upon assuming office in 2015, Buhari was appalled by the proposed N10 million food budget for the presidency. “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?’” Shehu quoted Buhari as saying.

Shehu noted that Buhari’s meals were simple, consisting of staples commonly associated with ordinary Nigerians, including tuwo (grain-based dough dishes), pap, akara (bean cake), beans, wheat, salads, poultry, and mutton. The former president’s preference for modest, healthy foods reflected his commitment to a frugal lifestyle while in office, Shehu added.

The revelation highlights Buhari’s approach to governance, emphasizing simplicity and cost-consciousness during his presidency from 2015 to 2023.