Group faults purchase of N57.6bn SUVs, tasks Federal lawmakers on patriotism

*Accountable Leadership for Better Nigeria Initiative, a civil rights organisation, has faulted the purchase of brand new Toyota Prado SUVs at an estimated cost of N57.6 billion for 360 Federal lawmakers

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Accountable Leadership for Better Nigeria Initiative (ALBNI), a civil rights organisation, has criticised the purchase of brand new Toyota Prado SUVs (Sports Utility Vehicles) at an estimated cost of N57.6 billion for 360 Nigerian Federal lawmakers in the National Assembly (NASS), Abuja, FCT.

ALBNI described the purchase at the time the country is confronted with unprecedented hardships as “reckless, insensitive and unfortunate”.

Mr. Remi Adebayo, Lead Director of the group, in a statement issued Tuesday, October 16, 2023, said allocating such humongous resources to buying vehicles at this moment speaks volumes about how contemptuous the political class holds the people.

Adebayo said: “Claiming that the SUVs are not gifts but property of the National Assembly is not enough. Buying them in the first place at this time is repulsive; that they’re sourced outside Nigeria even makes it annoying.

“We cannot imagine that the Legislature would toe this regrettable line at a time the Federal Government is seeking loans to fund ineffective palliatives that have so far been muddled in controversies without significant impact.”

The statement also noted: “With their unabated  appetite for foreign goods and total disregard for anything locally produced, the Nigerian lawmakers have again, demonstrated completed avarice and total disdain for local content, as well as disinterest in boosting Nigeria’s economy or creating jobs.

“Nigeria cannot grow its economy when holders of its mandate lack patriotism or interest in embracing products manufactured internally by the citizens.”

In the meantime, the civil society group has demanded apologies from Management of the National Assembly.

It further urged the Federal lawmakers to return the vehicles in the interest of fairness and good conscience.

“Doing so will only prove that these Federal lawmakers identify with the Nigerians in this moment of pain and telling hardships when citizens are sharing a cup of rice to feed a whole family.

“We also demand a legislation to compel all tiers and organs of government to compulsorily patronise local products except when such products are unavailable locally,” stated the Lead Director.

ALBNI urged Nigerians to always “intensify the search for credible alternatives, and ensure that only persons with altruistic national values are elected into public offices,” the statement added.