Sunday Karimi, the Chairman of the Senate Services Committee from Kogi West (APC), has addressed the recent public uproar surrounding the acquisition of Prado Landcruiser Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for the 469 federal lawmakers, deeming it misdirected.
During an interview with journalists in Abuja after a Senate plenary session, Karimi expressed his disappointment with the extensive media coverage and scrutiny that followed the revelation of the vehicle purchase deal, which has become a customary occurrence every four years.
Karimi elaborated on the Senate's decision-making process, emphasizing that various factors were considered, including cost-effectiveness, durability, and the challenging condition of many Nigerian roads, before opting for the SUVs. He found it unfair that the attention and criticism focused on lawmakers' utility vehicles, as the situation was far more excessive at the executive level. He pointed out that non-elected ministers frequently travelled in convoys with multiple such vehicles without significant scrutiny from the media or the public.
Karimi stated, "Some ministers possess more than three Land Cruisers, Prados, and other vehicles, and no one questions them. Why focus on us? When I visit my senatorial district, I incur substantial expenses on my vehicles due to our poor road conditions. Do you understand?"
He continued, "Our choice to use the Land Cruiser involved a comprehensive analysis, including price comparison and other factors related to cost and durability. It's not solely the senators' decision; we thoroughly analyzed it before opting for the Land Cruiser. It was based on a comparative analysis of the cost and durability of Nigerian roads. Do you follow me? We want something that can endure for another four years. Purchasing vehicles for the National Assembly is a recurring issue; it arises in every assembly."
He went on to say, "If you look at state houses of assembly today, most of them, even before being inaugurated, have had the governor purchase vehicles awaiting their arrival, as do local government chairmen. I have personally driven the vehicle used by my local government chairman. So, why single out the National Assembly?"
Addressing the cost of the vehicles, he explained, "Let me clarify, as the Chairman of the Service Committee. When I joined the Senate, I inherited a liability of over N16 billion, which included various items, including vehicles from the 7th, 8th, and 9th assemblies."
