Moghalu reacts to alleged plan to borrow $1.5bn for purchase of reps’ cars

Kingsley Moghalu

Former presidential candidate Kingsley Moghalu has expressed displeasure over alleged plan by the Federal Government to borrow $1.5 billion from the World Bank for budget support and to buy sports utility vehicles (SUVs) for members of the House of Representatives.

Moghalu said in a post on X on Monday that the development shows Nigeria is not a serious country.

“There is a real problem when Nigeria is set to borrow another $1.5 billion from @WorldBank for budget support, and SUVs worth N160 million each are reportedly to be bought for 360 members of the House of Representatives. We are not yet serious as a country.

“Nigeria is becoming a carcass, and our political class its scavengers!” he wrote.

The former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) wrote in another post that were he the president or governor of a state, official vehicles would be procured locally.

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“If I were President of Nigeria or Governor of a State, no government official will drive a foreign made vehicle at government expense (procurement) when we have local alternatives. That is one demonstration of patriotic leadership and commitment to cutting the cost of governance,” Moghalu wrote.

On Sunday, spokesperson of the House Akin Rotimi confirmed that the green chamber is in the “phased process of procuring and distributing operational vehicles to honourable members”.

“The vehicles are work tools and not status symbols — honourable members are diligent and patriotic elected representatives and not entitled,” he said.