The controversy over the N255
million BMW bullet proof cars
yesterday took a new turn when the
Lagos State Government denied
requesting for the vehicles, saying
“it didn’t use such cars during the
18th National Sports Festival
hosted in 2012.”
But the state government also
maintained that it only requested
for regular saloon cars, four wheel
drive vehicles and buses, which it
got from Coscharis in its capacity as
the official vehicle providers for
the sports.
The denial came in following amid
public outcry and condemnation
trailing the role the state
government in the purchase of two
armoured cars by the Nigerian Civil
Aviation Authority (NCAA) for the
Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella
Oduah.
A source close to the Commissioner
for Youths, Sports and Social
Development, Mr. Enitan Oshodi
said that the state government duly
made a request to President
Goodluck Jonathan.
He explained that “the state
government requested for waiver of
destination inspection charges and
duty exemption on 300 vehicles,
which were to be used for the
festival.”
According to the source, “Following
the offer of sponsorship of and
provision of vehicles for the
festival by Coscharis Nigeria
Limited, the state government
made a formal request to the
president as requested by the
sponsors, which was granted.
The source said “The request was
duly granted by the president to
the issuance of a Certificate of
Waiver in respect of the duty
payable on the importation of the
cars by Coscharis Nigeria Limited,”
The source further explained that
the state government have
documents to show the vehicles
were supplied and used during the
18th National Sports Festival.
According to the source, the
vehicles requested from Coscharis
Nigeria Limited, which was the
sponsor of the festival, were
limited to saloon cars, four wheel
drive vehicles and buses to convey
the 14,000 athletes and 10,000
officials who attended the festival
across the country.
He noted that the state
government did not request for any
bulletproof vehicle BMW Level 7 or
any other bulletproof vehicle for
use during the festival hosted
between November 27 and
December 9, 2012.
Vanguard

Everyday new dimension to our oga bullet car