The State Government of Sokoto, under the directives of the State Governor, Ahmad Aliyu has reportedly purchased over 100 brand-new Toyota vehicles to be used as taxis in the state.
The report which was shared on Instagram by @Automobil_poacher, comes shortly after it was announced that the Sokoto Government approved N20.3 billion for female-only taxis and other palliatives for citizens in the state to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.
This was public by Jabir Mai-Hula, the Commissioner for Religious Affairs after a maiden Executive Council meeting of the state on the the 1st of September, 2023.
The state Government has used part of the N20.3 Billion approved budget to purchase 2021 and 2022 models of the Toyota Corolla.
However, following the public announcement of these vehicles, many Nigerians have criticized the government for purchasing these vehicles said to cost over N19 million each.
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Some social media reactions to the news:
@Zayyad_a commented: “Uselessly spending state funds! Instead of alleviating hunger and poverty you are funding luxury transport.. miss placement of priority indeed!”
@Chrisraphael71 said: “Toyota YARIS or NISSAN MICRA 2005model would have been much better if at all this scheme is necessary. Management and Maintenance will tell the later sorry.
🙄 What a waste”
@Gallas_mexes added: ‘Who did they give the supply contract🤔🤔.. Check that person very well it’s probably a relative!!! Another way to embezzle money!! Dead country”
@Incrediblemc_ said: “This is a waste of public funds. Imagine the number of Uber Corolla the same amount would buy and the number of people that’d benefit from the scheme. No ideas.”
@12n35.teslim said: “Do you know you pay the same amount to clear this vehicle and normal underage Camry, the under Camry might even be more expensive in clearing…… the purchasing difference from abroad might be just 5k$…… right now it’s better to buy a new model than wasting money on the old ones.”
@Zigyy_pappy commented: “lol, I’m sure there are exotics cars in western world for taxi 🚕 than this. E nor matter, na why them say na rich man go enjoy white man for Africa”
@Jameel_Musa said: “Considering the economy, this is an outright priority misplacement, there are cars of lower economic value but highly economic maintenance that ought to have procured, cars that will last for years but not these. Amma what do I know?”
