Victor Ezeja
AdminFormer Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Joe Abah, has punctured the argument being bandied by Nigerian lawmakers that Japanese-made Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) procured for them was due to the durability of the Land Cruiser vehicles.
It was recently in the news that members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives have started receiving brand new 2023 model Toyota Land Cruisers procured for them at N160 million apiece, and estimated to eventually cost Nigerian taxpayers N57.6 billion.
The procurement has been greeted by widespread criticisms from Nigerians who among other reasons are incensed that the federal lawmakers are going for exotic automobiles that could be manufactured locally. This is against the backdrop of the removal of the petrol subsidy by the federal government on May 29, which instantly spiked the cost of living in the country.
Reacting to the criticisms, the Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume disclosed last month that his colleagues are opting for foreign SUVs because they want cars that are “stable” and safe.
READ ALSO: SERAP Asks Court To Stop Purchase Of N57.6bn SUVs For Nigerian Lawmakers
“Over the years, that cost is going up. We had 406 but it did not serve the purpose,” he said, adding that, “In 2007, we went for Prado. That Prado was the least expensive of all jeeps if you remember that time. I think we lost two senators because of the instability of the vehicle. That was why they went for a Land Cruiser.”
Speaking in the same vein, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Services, Sunday Karimi, said on Tuesday that the lawmakers want vehicles that would last for the next four years, hence the choice of luxury cars. “I said the decision that we took on using Land Cruiser is — you know they have exchanged the price analysis and other sections, including the cost and durability. Are you getting me?” he said.
Weighing in on the conversation, Abah insisted that it is unjustifiable for Nigerian legislators to get new cars every four years, pointing out that the vehicle he used while in office was made in Nigeria, and was inherited by his successor who still uses the vehicle till date.
Posting a top-shape picture of his erstwhile official vehicle on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Abah wrote: “How can anyone defend buying cars for legislators every 4 years though? On top of all the money they TAKE (not EARN)? Why buy foreign cars?
“When I was DG, the Innoson I used served me very well for 4 years. I left it behind when I was leaving. It’s still in active service,” he added.
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