The chairman of the Senate Committee on Services, Ibrahim
Gobir, has defended the Senate’s decision to pay N36.5 million for each of
dozens of Toyota Land Cruisers recently acquired for senators.
Gobir, has defended the Senate’s decision to pay N36.5 million for each of
dozens of Toyota Land Cruisers recently acquired for senators.
The senate has come under fire for apparently spending far more
than the open market cost of each of the vehicles, and more importantly for
spending the huge amount at a time of national economic crisis.
than the open market cost of each of the vehicles, and more importantly for
spending the huge amount at a time of national economic crisis.
Mr. Gobir told journalists in Abuja that the
specification of the acquired vehicles were higher than those reported in the
media.
specification of the acquired vehicles were higher than those reported in the
media.
According to him, the specification of Land Cruisers was VXR
V8 not V6. Continue…
V8 not V6. Continue…
“The car we bought is Land Cruiser VXR V8, not V6,” said Mr.
Gobir.
Gobir.
“The showroom price is about N31 million minimum and then
when you add 10 per cent tax it becomes 36.5 million.
when you add 10 per cent tax it becomes 36.5 million.
“In fact you can go to the internet and download it; it is
very simple, we can give you the website, and you can see them.
very simple, we can give you the website, and you can see them.
“So, I think what we have purchased the car for is very
reasonable”.
reasonable”.
He also said that the Senate purchased only 36 vehicles,
contrary to media reports that it procured 108 cars.
contrary to media reports that it procured 108 cars.
“A lot has been happening within the last two days concerning
the issue of cars, car loan, appropriation and cost of the cars and we feel it
necessary to come out and inform the public about it.
the issue of cars, car loan, appropriation and cost of the cars and we feel it
necessary to come out and inform the public about it.
“This is so, so that people can have a better understanding
of the whole thing to avoid wrong perception as being created among Nigerians.
of the whole thing to avoid wrong perception as being created among Nigerians.
“That we bought 108 cars is totally wrong; it is not correct.
We bought 36 cars.
We bought 36 cars.
“These 36 cars, each senator in each state is either a
chairman or a vice chairman and we gave one car to each state to share as
utility car. So, we don’t have money to buy 108 cars.
chairman or a vice chairman and we gave one car to each state to share as
utility car. So, we don’t have money to buy 108 cars.
“We had a closed session and they agreed that we should give
one car per state; we sat down and agreed who needs the car most and that was
what happened,” he said.
one car per state; we sat down and agreed who needs the car most and that was
what happened,” he said.
Mr. Gobir also denied allegations that the senate purchased
the cars without appropriation.
the cars without appropriation.
According to him, on the issue of buying cars without appropriation,
it is totally wrong because this has been appropriated in the 2015 budget.
it is totally wrong because this has been appropriated in the 2015 budget.
“So, we used what we have in the 2015 budget to buy the 36
cars so that it can go round to each state,” he stated.
cars so that it can go round to each state,” he stated.
NAN
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