by TOYOSI OGUNSEYE

Bayo James (not real name) walked into Inkastrans, Victoria Island, Lagos, one sunny afternoon and requested a bullet-proof car. Though he looked well-fed, he did not come across as an affluent person, a celebrity or even a politician. Moreover, there was no fear in his eyes. So, what did he need an armoured vehicle for? No one may be able to tell, because James was not buying the bullet-proof car for himself. He was only a proxy for the real owner of the car.

So many people like James walk into armoured car shops requesting this specialised automobile almost on a daily basis without revealing the identity of their owners. The owners of the bullet-proof vehicles may be anonymous, but it doesn’t change the fact that Nigeria is the fourth importer of armoured vehicles in the world.

With a yearly importation of between 600 and 1,000 armoured vehicles, Nigeria only comes behind Iraq, Afghanistan and Latin America. The Vice-President of Inkas Armored Vehicle Manufacturing, which is the parent company of Inkastrans, Mr. Dmitri Khazanski, assures that the position of Nigeria on the armoured-car importation world chart is no exaggeration. Khazanski says that the first time his company received a request for an armoured car by a Nigerian was in 2005 and since then, the number has increased steadily.

The Executive Vice-President of Texas Armoring Corporation, Mr. Jason Forston, in an earlier interview with SUNDAY PUNCH, shared Khazanski’s view. Forston said that about 30 per cent of his company’s market was from Nigeria and added that, “Over the years, we’ve probably sent close to 800-900 armoured vehicles to Nigeria.”

While the position of Iraq and Afghanistan as the top two importers of armoured vehicles is understandable because of the war situations in those regions, not a few have wondered why Nigeria should be number four in the world. A security expert, Mr. Wole Madariola, says that the closeness of the 2011 general elections has caused politicians to massively place orders for heavily fortified anti-ballistic vehicles.

He says, “A lot of politicians and wealthy Nigerians have expanded the internal security around their residences, particularly in the face of high-profile kidnappings that the country has witnessed.” The high rate of small arms proliferation in the country may be another reason armoured cars have become a common sight in Nigeria.

…
He says, “Armoured vehicles are of two types: Special purpose vehicles and passenger vehicles. The SPVs are mostly purchased by banks and security operatives, while the passenger vehicles are for passenger cars.” These specialised vehicles, which range from the armoured Mercedes Benz S600/S550 to the Cadillac Escalade and Toyota Land Cruiser do not come cheap, with the Toyota range being the favourite of most Nigerians.

Forston said that the heavily fortified Cadillac Escalade, which has its floor, roof, pillar posts and window overlaps armoured, sells for about $400,000 (about N60m) per unit.
What makes the bullet-proof cars more attractive to the owners and would-be buyers is that they cannot be differentiated from regular automobiles.

With a yearly importation of between 600 and 1,000 armoured vehicles, Nigeria only comes behind Iraq, Afghanistan and Latin America.

Kobojunkie:

Kai!!! Market dey boom ooo!

Jenifa_:

since when did Latin America become a country?

Forston said that the heavily fortified Cadillac Escalade, which has its floor, roof, pillar posts and window overlaps armoured, sells for about $400,000 (about N60m) per unit.

Ileke-IdI:

Nigerians lol. They were prolly talking about South America lol

Jenifa_:

60 million naira times 1000 cars
that's 60 BILLION NAIRA all on imported bullet proof cars. imagine what 60 billion naira could do for the country?

[size=18pt]who are these nigerian elites?  [/size]

still doesn't sound right. there are quite a few countries in south america. poster is just trying to exaggerate Nigeria's position. it's understandable but still fallacious.

playmode:

These corrupt politicians can buy all the armored cars they want in the world but that won't save them from the South African made Denel-Mechem NTW-20mm Anti-Tank Sniper Rifle.It cuts through Armored passengers vehicles like knife through butter. It is a mini artillery gun. 

Here is a link to a short article of how the gun was designed and a picture a car that was hit with a 20mm non explosive rounds.

http://www.vincelewis.net/20mm.html
Now that is a big a.s.s gun,just make sure you have your $15,000 or so to buy it.
Below is the man who designed the gun.

zstranger:

You obviously dont know shyyt about Nigeria.

playmode:

These corrupt politicians can buy all the armored cars they want in the world but that won't save them from the South African made Denel-Mechem NTW-20mm Anti-Tank Sniper Rifle.It cuts through Armored passengers vehicles like knife through butter. It is a mini artillery gun.


[flash=425,344]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXLRYf9EV2Y?fs=1&hl=en[/flash]


[flash=425,344]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXKPOzyj-gI?fs=1&hl=en[/flash]


[flash=425,344]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHq6wi0jlnY?fs=1&hl=en[/flash]



Here is a link to a short article of how the gun was designed and a picture a car that was hit with a 20mm non explosive rounds.

http://www.vincelewis.net/20mm.html


Now that is a big a.s.s gun,just make sure you have your $15,000 or so to buy it.


Below is the man who designed the gun.

Jenifa_:

since when did Latin America become a country?

Jenifa_:

since when did Latin America become a country?

Ileke-IdI:


Nigerians lol. They were prolly talking about South America lol