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FG purchases 200 cars for African first ladies at N13.5m each

By on July 25, 2012

The ongoing African First Ladies Summit may had cost Nigeria government the host nation billions of naira as the Federal Government began delivery of 200 exotics cars ordered for use by guests.

First Lady Patience Jonathan is the convener of the event, with the theme “The African Woman: A Voice for Peace,” which is expected to be attended by spouses of African leaders.

Accordin to sources, the cars comprise 80 units of BMW X3 and X5 series with a market value of N13.5 million each, while the remaining 120 are exotic models of Honda, Jaguar and others.

“Daily Post” gathered that the vehicles were supplied by Coscharis Motors, and 180 units have already been delivered to the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday.

The cars are for use during the 7th African First Ladies for Peace Mission (AFLPM) summit scheduled for 24 to 27 July in Abuja. Already, African first ladies have begun arriving in the country since weekend for the four-day event.

There was conflicting information by last night on whether the cars were bought outright or hired, and no government official was ready to speak with our correspondents on the record for this story.

When contacted, the spokesman for Coscharis Motors, Mr. Ifeanyi Nihe, by telephone on Monday, he said the company had supplied vehicles to the Federal Government but refused to state the number and cost.

“I am not in the position to give out the real value of the transaction,” he said.

When asked which government agency was handling the transaction, Nihe said, “Our company is still talking with some officials of the government. I don’t know whether it is the First Lady’s office or not.”

Nihe also refused to confirm whether the cars were sold or leased out to the government for the event.

Coscharis Motors is the same company that supplied over 3,000 units of BMW series used during the 8th All African Games also known as COJA in 2003.

A source said the transaction for the 200 cars was processed by the office of the Minister of State for Finance.

Attempts to seek explanation from the office were not successful as a spokesman declined comment while the minister of state, Dr. Yerima Ngama, did not answer calls to his phone on Monday.

Also, attempts to get reaction from the office of the First Lady were not successful. Her spokesman Ayo Adewuyi could not be reached by telephone on Monday and yesterday.

The Federal Government is supposed to be operating a “monetization” policy under which government officials are paid monies in lieu of official vehicles. Ministries and agencies, including the Presidency, are also supposed to maintain pools of limited numbers of vehicles for official activities.

It is not clear what will happen to the 200 cars after the First Ladies conference, but such vehicles usually end up being auctioned at rock-bottom prices to the well-connected or government workers take possession of them.

The main objective of the African First Ladies summit, according to the concept paper, is to “facilitate the flow of authentic conversations and ideas that will create powerful new paradigm for the African woman.”

During the conference, the foundation laying ceremony of the secretariat of Mrs. Jonathan’s First Ladies Peace Mission is scheduled be performed in Abuja.

The foundation is to be laid on the disputed land allocated to former first lady Turai Yar’Adua’s Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation (WAYEF) in February 2010 but revoked by FCT Minister Bala Mohammed in November last year and reallocated to Mrs. Jonathan’s pet project.

The AFLPM was established in 1997 and aims at the prevention and management of conflict as well as the preservation of peace through civil and humanitarian diplomacy.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/wumilukas Oyelusi Lukas Olumuyiwa

    Abeg o, make una forgive my naivety, do developed countries also spend this much on conferences????

    • jazell

      i wonder o

  • ismail suleiman

    only God will jugde us, we will never forgive you for all these. While millions of nigerians are passing away in hunger but our government is wasting our money in doing stupid things like this.

  • babs

    Please confirm before spreading sensitive information! These so called cars are BMW 5series, 120 in number are not bought by FGN. Coscharis gave them to AFLPM for the summit’s purpose and they ll be returned back to them after the summit. That is their donation. There are no jaguar or honda cars, only BMW and 120 in number. Desregard any other info pls.

    • tutsy

      What a bitch. U think coscharis won’t get sumthing back for “donating” 120 BMW 5series? Y didn’t they rent just 10 “fashola buses” efing piss takers.

    • olayemi olasumbo

      Then why did the federal government and coscharis refuse to comment on d matter. Abeg we are not fools jor.

    • Bright Maduagwuna

      Shot up! You are culpable in this crime. why are you saying this when the authorites who are supposed to tell Nigerians about this kept mom. Why every other person refuse to say anything about this, because it is not a transparent deal. Remember God is watching O! – Tell patience Jonathan like that, because I have seen she is an iliterate, an upstart and educated equivalent of the Ose-Onitsha Market woman.

  • Gentle Dan

    What kind of waste is this? Why is this government so insensitive to the level of poverty in the land and it’s attendant problems? If this is TRUE, my heart bleeds for Nigeria and Nigerians.

  • Minero

    @Babs: Nigerians are no more fools. Why did he refused commenting on it or did you not read clearly? Shame on the leaders and the people that elected them because they claim they had no shoes… All of una go soon face hell! Let’s wait & see.

  • Minero

    Let them eat their last supper cos they would be made to vomit them by force #GodIsWatching

  • Spysea

    exactly what makes Africa great!

  • http://www.facebook.com/sandrauloma.nwoke Sandra Uloma Nwoke

    What more do Nigerians need to hear? Where are the Law makers?Let us share 13.5million to women and widows in 200 communities and watch them sing praises to God.am just so pissed with this country

  • SholaJohn

    Worst government so far. I have very strong reasons to doubt this man’s PhD. It’s very suspect. This money can sort out infrastructure problems in all the schools in any selected LGA in Nigeria yet it’s frittered away on fashion parade.

  • Olayemi Olasumbo

    I used to be a very patriotic Nigrian but with all these happening I think I am begining to hate this country. It seems there is no more hope for Nigeria.

  • Bright Maduagwuna

    Postered by an indigene of Okrika:
    Jonathan and his iliterate wife are criminals by all standard. What conference can a woman who find it difficult to read just a few line written by another person host. They are punishing Nigerians and God is watching them. What meaning does it make when millions people in Nigeria cannot afford a day’s meal and they are wasting Nigerians money on unecessary carnivals. Mrs Jonathan go to your village and register your presence if you have nothing to do. Your people is among the poorest in this country inspite of the oil wealth.
    Please have turned another Brutus in the sharesparian drama by inducing the revocation of land allocated to another first lady. It shows that you dont think at all. Can you recall how you got there! Jezebel.