THE N5.5 billion budget for the purchase of new cars for senators of the ninth assembly will get the Nigerian Police Force at least 36 Robinson R-44 Raven II helicopters, at $500,000 each, meaning that each state can get one. Even if Nigeria goes for the more expensive Bell 206 Jet Ranger at $900,000 each, it would still be able to get 20 helicopters with state of the art equipment to deploy for aerial surveillance and tackle some of intractable security problems.

But, in a country ravaged by insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of crimes, the lawmakers are more interested in buying luxury cars.

The ninth senate under the leadership of Senator Ahmed Lawan plans to spend N5.5 billion to purchase new Toyota Land Cruiser Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for committee chairmen, their deputies and other principal officers of the red chamber at the cost of N50 million each (this is inclusive of the returning members).

The Bukola Saraki-led eighth senate spent about N4.7 billion to purchase the same brand of vehicles at the cost of N36 million. About N1.3 billion was expended on procuring vehicles for senators in 2012. At the time, 109 cars were bought for the lawmakers, each costing N11.07 million.

In the past three senates, the upper chamber of the National Assembly has spent N11.5 billion on purchase of cars. Specifically, in 2011, the senate earmarked N1.2 billion, 2015; NN4.7 billion and now it has earmarked N5.5 billion.

There are senators who have repeatedly enjoyed this largesse. Example of such is the current Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, who was first elected a senator in 2007 under the sixth national assembly. Other senators who have enjoyed from this largesse include Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Ali Ndume, Ajayi Boroffice, Dino Melaye, Oluremi Tinubu just to mention few of the returned senators who have enjoyed from the ‘free gift’.

https://www.icirnigeria.org/n5-5-billion-budgeted-for-legislators-cars-will-buy-20-helicopters-for-the-police/

Nigeria is cursed!