Published 7th Mar, 2024

By Opeyemi Lawal

Nasir Idris, the Governor of Kebbi State, presented to all 24 members of the Kebbi State House of Assembly new Toyota sports utility vehicles (SUVs) on Tuesday.

Idris, who announced it via his X page, said that the vehicles fulfilled his promise to the lawmakers and expressed gratitude for their commitment and dedication.

“I am honoured to fulfil my promise by distributing 24 First Class Toyota Jeeps to the dedicated members of the Kebbi State House of Assembly for their official engagements,” Idris wrote.

I am honored to fulfill my promise by distributing 24 First Class Toyota Jeeps to the dedicated members of the Kebbi State House of Assembly for their official engagements. Today, at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi, I personally presented these vehicles, expressing gratitude… pic.twitter.com/aaNppRwLnv
— Dr. Nasir Idris (@NasiridrisKG) March 5, 2024

However, Nigerians on X have criticised the governor for spending money on frivolities despite Nigeria’s prevailing economic conditions.

FIJ spoke with a car dealer who said that the vehicle given to the lawmakers is the Toyota Fortuner, whose models range between 2016 and 2018. He told FIJ that the SUVs cost between N85 and N120 million each on average.

230 YEARS FOR ONE SUV

FIJ found that Idris’ N85 million splurge on each of the vehicles given to the 24 lawmakers would amount to N2.04 billion and it would take an average government worker who earns the N30,000 minimum wage 236 years to be able to afford one of the SUVs.

The average worker would need exactly 236.1 years to be able to afford any of the SUVs.

The 2.04 billion can also pay 68,000 people working with the state government the N30,000 minimum wage.

Also, FIJ found that this same amount could buy 51,000 households half the bag of rice currently sold for N80,000. It can also provide 25,500 households with a bag of rice each.

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