Said they considered cost, durability and maintenance of the vehicles as well as Nigeria roads. Nord CEO earlier wondered why they opted for foreign-made cars when Nigerian brands offer same quality at a better price....CONTINUE READING
The Chairman of the Committee on Senate Services, Sunday Karimi has revealed that the Senate settled for Toyota Land Cruiser against a locally-made ones after a comparative of analysis of cost, durability, maintenance and Nigeria roads.
Karimi made this known to reporters in Abuja on Tuesday while responding to criticism over the planned purchase of official vehicles worth N160 million each, adding that members of the other arms of government use similar vehicles.
“We want something that we can maintain for another four years. It is not the decisions of the senators alone, we did an analysis before arriving at Land cruiser,” he said.
Justifying the high cost of the vehicles, Karimi said :
“When I came to the Senate, when they gave me their liability. They have a liability of over N16 billion that is made up of different thing including vehicles purchased for members of 7th, 8th and 9th assemblies.
“If you are a businessman and you supply vehicles for somebody in 2014 or 2015 or so and up till now they are owing you. I am not trying to defend anybody.
“If a Landcruiser in the market let say it is A cost, you don’t expect somebody that will supply it to supply it at the price they are selling it in the market.
“It has to leave a margin and the civil service rule for supply allows for 25% margin, plus 7.5% VAT. Out of that 25% margin, they will still remove 5% tax from it.
“You are telling someone to supply when the clients may even end up not making payment for three years and you want him to supply at the price they are selling in the market, it is not possible.”
Recall that the Chief Executive Officer of Nord Automobile, Ajayi Oluwatobi, had wondered why the two chambers of the National Assembly will opt for foreign-made vehicles when cars made by Nigerian brands can offer the same quality at a better price.
