Buhari Cuts Cars In Motorcade

President Muhammadu Buhari has cut down the number of vehicles in the presidential motorcade, sources told Daily Trust.

The sources said this is part of the measures aimed at reducing the cost of governance.

However, Daily Trust findings have shown that Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara’s motorcades have remained unchanged.

The president moves in a motorcade of about 12 vehicles as counted by our reporters recently. The senate president and the speaker’s convoys comprise of an average of 10 vehicles each.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan maintained not less that 23 cars in his motorcade.

The highest number of vehicles in Buhari’s ministers’ convoys is four while the lowest number is two as observed by our reporters.
On the eve of inaugurating his ministers last month, Buhari warned his ministers-designate to avoid large convoys, long protocol and retinue of aides.

The president gave this directive at the end of the two-day retreat he organised for the new ministers at the Presidentail Villa in Abuja.

Speaking on behalf of the ministers, Minister of Labour Dr Chris Ngige said the new government “will be running a lean economy because we are going to block areas of leakages. Retinue of aides, protocol staff and large convoys of cars are things that will not fly in this administration.”

Checks by our reporters revealed that there are 12 cars in Buhari’s convoy. Our correspondents observed this at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja on December 7 shortly after the president arrived from a function.

The president’s convoy at that time just arrived from the Shehu Musa Yar’adua International Conference Centre where he attended the public presentation of the book “From Opposition to Governing Party: Nigeria’s APC Merger Story” written by Minister of Science and Technology Ogbonnaya Onu.

The convoy included eight Mercedes cars, two BMW cars, one black Range Rover Sports Utility Vehicle, and one pick-up vehicle of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

There is the likelihood that the president may have other cars of security details.
Not long after he took office President Buhari turned down a request by senior government officials to buy new cars worth N400 million.

He said at the time that the ones he inherited from former President Goodluck Jonathan were good enough for him to use.
The convoy of the Senate President Saraki has a total of eight cars, our reporters observed. They are Mercedes Benz S500, one staff car, and the other one serves as spare.

Also on the convoy of the senate president are two security vehicles, two jeeps, and two other cars that ferry his aides.
The convoy has two power bikes. It was observed that the convoy of Saraki is longer when going for functions outside the National Assembly.

Speaker Dogara moves around with over eight different cars in his convoy, Daily Trust observed.

Of the eight cars, there are two S600 V12 Mercedes Benz, which serve as the staff cars. Also in Dogara’s convoy are two Land Cruiser SUVs, two police Hilux vans, one Camry LE and a Peugeot 406. There are also two dispatch riders that usually move in front of the speaker’s convoy.

It was observed that the two Hilux vans are usually occupied by officers of the Nigeria Police attached to the speaker, while the two Land Cruiser SUVs are occupied by other security details attached to the speaker.

The Camry and the Peugeot 406 are occupied by other aides to the speaker, who follow him in most of the places he goes.
Also, our correspondents observed that Dogara’s deputy Yussuf Suleimon Lasun’s convoy comprises of an S600 Mercedes Benz staff car, two Hilux vans, two SUVs and a Camry sedan with two dispatch riders.

Even former governors who are now in Buhari’s cabinet who are used to elaborate convoys and protocol, are now using very lean convoys.

Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Raji Fashola has about five vehicles in his convoy. The former Lagos state g