Reps’ N6.1bn exotic cars malfunction 90 days after delivery

Some of the exotic cars delivered to the members of the House of Representatives have developed faults barely 90 days after the automobiles arrived in Abuja, The PUNCH gathered on Sunday.

The majority of the lawmakers, 240 out of the total of 360, took delivery of the Peugeot 508 cars between June and July this year. The cars, which lawmakers prefer to call “committee or utility vehicles,” belong to the National Assembly, though the members keep them in their homes.

Each unit costs N17m, which amounts to a total of N6.1bn for the 360 units for the 360 members. House spokesman, Mr. Abdulrazak Namdas, confirmed the unit cost of the cars to The PUNCH last July. “One car is for about N17m; yes”, he said.

Contracts for the supplies were handled by the Chairman, Committee on House Services, Mr. Bashir Baballe-Ila, and officials of the National Assembly.

Investigations showed that members started complaining of faults in the cars just weeks after taking delivery.

“There have been faulty electrical issues and mechanical challenges.

“Some members have complained that they have experienced breakdown as a result of the faults,” a National Assembly official said.

One lawmaker was reported to have abandoned his vehicle at the National Assembly Complex, Annex I, two weeks ago.

It was also gathered another member from one of the South-West states called Baballe-Ila last week and threatened to return the car for a replacement.

The Chairman of a key committee, who is from Kano State, said, “What the members are saying about the cars is true.

“There have been complaints concerning the cars for months and members are calm because the leadership, particularly the Speaker (Yakubu Dogara), pleaded for patience.”

Findings by The PUNCH indicated that some lawmakers were beginning to suspect that the cars were fairly used before the committee bought them from the original owners.

Punch, October 30, 2017

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now