Automakers begin lobby for Presidency’s N1.6bn new vehicles

Automakers and dealers have commenced a high level of lobby for juicy contracts of vehicle supply to the Presidency and other agencies of government in the 2022 fiscal year.

Already, President Muhammadu Buhari has presented the next year budget to the National Assembly put at N16.39tn.

Part of the budget breakdown by Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, shows that the presidency would spend N1.6 billion on purchase of vehicles and spares.

Newstrends investigation shows that interested automakers/dealers are already lobbying influential politicians and top government officials to get sizeable chunks of the vehicle supply/parts supply.

Although the Federal Government had said it would lead in the patronage of locally assembled vehicles to encourage more local content utilization and job generation, dealers of imported brands are said to be in the lead of the lobby for government vehicles demand.

Currently, foreign brands dominate the fleet of vehicles being used by many chief executive officers of government agencies, governors, ministers and even the presidency.

Latest statistics show that the ongoing phased replacement of vehicles and spares at the presidency will cost N1.6bn compared to the N436m set aside for a similar purpose in the 2021 proposal.

Other details show that about N180,089,000 is provided for purchase of tyres for bulletproof vehicles, plain cars, CCU vehicles, platform trucks, jeeps, ambulances and other utility and operational vehicles.

A total of N116,194,297 was set aside for a similar purpose last year.