Senator Ireti Kingibe has called for government officials to be mandated to use only vehicles assembled in Nigeria following an outcry over the high cost of governance as Nigerians cope with economic hardships. 

 

During an interview on Channels on Wednesday, August 9, Kingibe disclosed that she rides “a 1986 car”. When asked what she would do differently, the senator representing the FCT said;

 

“I would insist that all government vehicles must have been assembled in Nigeria. That would go a long way to improving productivity in Nigeria.

“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.”

 

Kingibe who also noted that certain commodities such as tinned tomatoes should not be imported, stated that cutting down on importation would cause the dollar to fall and help grow the economy.

 

Also reacting to the criticisms directed at her and other members of the Labour Party for not speaking out more during the recent screening of ministerial nominees, the FCT senator said;

 

“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.

“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.”