Amid national economic struggles, Nigeria’s National Assembly faces fierce criticism over its recent decision to procure luxury vehicles for its members, a move seen by many as blatant disregard for the populace’s hardships.
Contracts are already underway for 469 2023-model Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs, including additional bulletproof vehicles for top officials. The Senate is set to acquire 107 Toyota Prados for its senators, costing around N160 million each, alongside special vehicles for Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his deputy, Barau Jibrin, priced at N320 million each. Concurrently, the House plans to distribute 358 SUVs and secure two fortified vehicles for its leading figures.
This extravagant expenditure comes at a time when the standard Land Cruiser price hovers between N135 million and N145 million, highlighting the stark contrast with the nation’s economic reality. Consequently, advocacy groups and citizens have condemned this financial excess, labeling it an arrogant display amidst widespread economic hardship.
According to a report by The Guardian, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) is legally challenging the move. They’ve sought an interim court injunction to halt the vehicle procurement, emphasizing the mockery it makes of the rule of law, particularly considering the pending lawsuit against this controversial purchase.
Despite the uproar, the Assembly proceeded with the acquisitions, with contractors even pushing for price adjustments due to the naira’s devaluation. The Senate remains tight-lipped on these developments despite repeated attempts for comments from Senate spokespersons and President Akpabio.
Defending the procurement, House spokesperson Akin Rotimi clarifies that these aren’t personal luxuries but essential tools for official duties. The vehicles, he states, will remain Assembly property beyond the members’ tenure, aligning with government asset regulations.
Public disapproval intensifies, comparing the current N160 million per vehicle price tag to the N50 million spent previously in 2019. The specifics of the SUVs, featuring advanced tech and off-road capabilities, only add fuel to the fire of public discourse.
Prominent figures like former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili have voiced outrage, especially given the silence within the Assembly against this backdrop of national economic distress. Human rights groups urge citizen protests, decrying the insensitivity of allocating massive funds for luxury vehicles while most Nigerians grapple with basic needs amidst collapsing infrastructure.
This flamboyant display by officials deepens public mistrust and potentially exacerbates security risks, driving crime rates higher in a country with millions of unemployed youths, warns Emmanuel Onwubiko, head of the Human Rights Writers Association.
