Budget: Presidency to buy multi-million naira SUVs

[DT]

The Presidency plans to spend hundreds of millions of naira to buy Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and other operational vehicles in the 2012 budget, Daily Trust can report.

According to the 2012 budget estimates, the State House will next year buy unspecified number of buses worth N161.2 million out of the N18.3 billion proposed in the budget of the Villa. In the same vein, Aso Rock will procure three utility jeeps and operational vehicles for the office of the vice president each at the cost of N17.05 million totaling N51.15 million; three convoy saloon cars at the cost of N6.32 million totaling N18.9 million and 10 pool saloon cars at the cost of N5.4 million .

Others are three Hiace busses each at N5.4 million, one 18-seater transit Coaster bus for N12.6 million; one crew Hiace bus with 10-seaters for N5.4 million and two Toyota Coaster bus at N11.52 million and another unspecified motor vehicles will consume N150 million.

The Presidency is also to spend another N356.7 million to replace aged vehicles, procure two treated Mercedes Benz saloon 600E guard for use by the President and Vice President at the sum of N140 million.

More so, the Villa will further buy five Mercedes Benz saloon 350 semi-plain cars at N25 million, 10 assorted Range Rover  jeeps, Prado and Land Cruiser at N10 million each and procure accessories and maintenance equipment for guard vehicles at N25 million.

Other vehicles are six Toyota Hilux for observation and monitoring of primary and general election, six coaster buses for maintenance unit PRS department, and four Toyota Hiace for cabinet meetings and dispatch of council minutes.

In 2012, the Presidency will also spend N3.3 billion in constructing office buildings; N135 million to buy office equipments and furniture; N300 million to provide residential buildings; N203 million on electricity, N 268 million on health centres; and construction of infrastructure at the cost of N324.8 million. Recreational facilities will cost another N141.3 million.

Rehabilitation of an unnamed residential building will cost N670 million, another health centres N123 million; tennis, squash courts will gulp N135 million while rehabilitation of presidential chalet at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport will consume N135 million; and another N710 million will be spent on the construction of extension of new administration office building.

The extension of additional offices for the President will cost N1.875 billion naira; replacement of crested wares N300 million, presentation of equipment for the banquet hall N312 million while provision of irrigation network for the lawns and gardens in the State House will cost N141.3 million. The rehabilitation of Dodan Barracks in Lagos will gulp N220 million and N357.7 million will be spent on rehabilitation of Villa administration office.

Next year, the Presidency will further expend N.5 billion to repair presidential building, N1.650 billion for security equipments, while N750 million will be spent on purchase of office fittings among other expenditures.

DailyTrust

[DT]