Senate Approves Landcruisers for Rugged Terrain, Prioritizing Cost and Road Conditions

Abuja – In response to the public’s concerns about the purchase of Prado Landcruiser Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for 469 federal lawmakers, Chairman of the Senate Services Committee, Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West), has dismissed the outcry as misplaced.

He expressed his disappointment with the media’s attention, which followed the revelation of the vehicle purchase deal, which he noted has become a regular occurrence every four years. Speaking to journalists after the Senate plenary in Abuja, Karimi clarified that the Senate took several factors into consideration, including cost-effectiveness, durability, and the challenging condition of many Nigerian roads, before deciding on the SUVs.

Karimi also found the public’s scrutiny of lawmakers’ utility vehicles to be unfair, pointing out that the situation was more pronounced at the executive level. He highlighted how ministers who were not elected often traveled in convoys of several such vehicles without drawing significant attention from either the media or the public.

Karimi stated, “Some ministers own more than three Land Cruisers, Prados, and other vehicles, and no one questions them. Why should it be any different for us? When I visit my senatorial district, I spend a significant amount on my vehicles because our roads are in poor condition. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

He continued, “The decision to use Land Cruisers was not made by the senators alone. We conducted a thorough analysis before selecting the Land Cruiser. Our decision was based on a comparative analysis that considered cost and durability, especially on Nigerian roads. Are you following me?”

“We wanted a vehicle that we could maintain for another four years. Purchasing vehicles for the National Assembly is a recurring issue that arises in every assembly. It’s a practice that continues. Even state houses of assembly, local government chairmen, and governors do the same. Why single out the National Assembly?”

Addressing the cost of the vehicles, Karimi explained, “Let me clarify something. I am the Chairman of the Service Committee, and when I joined the Senate, I inherited a liability of over N16 billion, which included various items, including vehicles from the 7th, 8th, and 9th assemblies.”

source: vanguard