The leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives, late last year, gave out seperate contracts for the purchase of operational vehicles for legislators, despite criticisms from Nigerians.
The Senate took delivery of 107 Toyota Prado (2023 model) at the contract price of about N160 mnilion for each senator in addition to the bullet proof vehicles being purchased for the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and his deputy, Barau Jibrin at the cost of N320 million each.
The House of Representatives also distributed a total of 358 units of the 2023 model of Toyota Land Cruiser in addition to two bullet proof vehicles for the Speaker and the deputy speaker.
The market price of a 2023 model of Toyota Land Cruiser is between N135 million and N145 million.
The development attracted backlash and of condemnation of what critics called “arrogant display of insensitivity to people’s feelings in times of biting and harsh economic situations”
It worthy of note that the specific make of the vehicles revealed that each has a four-wheel drive mechanism, centre locking, terrain camera view, and many other off-road features which include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 10-speaker audio system, 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat,
8-way power-adjustable passenger seat, Heated and Ventilated front seats, Quad-zone climate control, Wireless Charging and Head-up display.”
Among prominent Nigerians who spoke against the purchase was former minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili.
She wrote, “You all had the audacity to spend scarce public resources on luxury cars at a time majority of your citizens cannot feed, transport themselves, pay school fees and hospital bills due to cost of living crisis?
“At this stage, it is evident you want to continue with your serial bad behavior. Since not even 1 of you fellows @nassnigeria @HouseNGR @NGRSenate saw the heartlessness of that decision to
buy 360 new Toyota SUVs for yourselves at this time of severe economic distress of the citizens and country, please know that you all are the biggest threat to our
Democracy.” she wrote on her X page.
