Senate argues that Nigeria’s poor roads justify the purchase of N160 million SUVs

On Tuesday, the Senate defended the N160 million per vehicle purchase of 107 senators’ 2023 Toyota Land Cruiser sports utility vehicles.

Additionally, it purchased armoured vehicles for both Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his deputy, Barau Jibrin.

The MPs received a lot of anger, with many Nigerians criticising them of being uncaring about the public’s mood given the high expense of living in the nation.

The Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) deemed the purchase of SUVs for federal politicians provocative at a time when most families are struggling to provide three square meals per day for their members and hospitals and roads are rapidly deteriorating across the nation.

In order to prevent the National Assembly from purchasing and accepting delivery of exotic and armoured cars for its members and top officials while the organization’s applications for injunction are heard and decided, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) petitioned the Federal High Court in Lagos.

The Red Chamber defended the SUV purchase, claiming that MPs required the vehicles for operational purposes.

The chairman of the committee on senate services, Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West), told reporters at the National Assembly in Abuja that the allegations of senators’ use of similar vehicles were unwarranted.

He pleaded with detractors to shine their spotlight on ministers and Assembly members.

A Minister has more than three land cruisers, a prado, and other vehicles, and you are not questioning them, why us?, claims Karimi.

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““You know it’s a recurring issue, but buying cars for National Assembly members. It comes up at every assembly and it always will.

“If you visit state houses of assembly today, look around; the governor would have purchased cars for the majority of them before they were even sworn in, even local government chairmen. I used the car that my local government chairman drives. then why the National Assembly?

Because of the poor condition of our highways, if I visit my senatorial district home just once, I return home spending a lot on my vehicles.

Following a cost, technical, and roadworthiness comparison, Karimi claimed that the Senate decided on the Toyota Land Cruiser over a locally made vehicle.

“We’re looking for something we can keep up for another four years. We conducted research before choosing the Land Cruiser, so it is not just the senators’ decisions that matter.

Regarding the price, Karimi stated: “When I got to the Senate, when they handed me their liabilities, they had a liability of over N16 billion that is made up of many items, including automobiles purchased for members of the 7th, 8th, and 9th assembly.

“Suppose you are a businessman and you supplied vehicles to someone in 2014, 2015, or somewhere along those lines, and they haven’t paid you yet. I’m not attempting to defend anyone.

“If a Land Cruiser is being sold for, say, A cost, you wouldn’t expect someone who will supply it to do so at that price.

It must leave a margin, and the civil service norm for supply permits a 25% margin plus a 7.5% VAT. They’ll still take 5% of the tax out of that 25% margin.

“It is impossible for you to order someone to supply at the price they are selling at the market when the customers might even end up with a three-year payment delay.”