Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Ireti Kingibe has argued that government officials must use only vehicles assembled in Nigeria, citing the high cost of governance and economic hardships faced by Nigerians.”
Senator Kingibe firmly stated that the current state of affairs is unsustainable, emphasizing the pressing need for change. When questioned about her approach to address the issue, she responded, “I would insist that all government vehicles must have been assembled in Nigeria. That would go a long way to improving productivity in Nigeria.”
Her stand aligns with the call for promoting local industries and reducing dependency on imported goods. By advocating for the use of domestically assembled vehicles, Senator Kingibe aims to contribute to the enhancement of the country’s productivity and self-sufficiency.
“For one thing, Innoson, perhaps Volkswagen and Peugeot, and maybe even Toyota might decide that it’s worth their while to set up an assembly plant here.”
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The opposition legislator emphasized that specific items, like canned tomatoes, must not be imported. Despite acknowledging a potential short-term inconvenience for the public, she clarified that such actions would lead to a depreciation of the dollar against the naira and consequently foster economic growth.
Kingibe also responded to criticism aimed at her and fellow members of the Labour Party, addressing their relatively restrained stance during the recent screening of ministerial nominees.
“Whenever people talk about us Labour senators, they’re only eight of us. And in a democracy, the minority will have their say, and at the end of the day, the majority will have their way,” she said.
“We will make changes that we can make, but we’re also new in the Senate. We’re trying to find our feet; we’re trying to know the run of the place. So, they have to give us a little bit of time to see the impact that we can make as well.”