The Abia State Government has provided an explanation for why it decided to buy a fleet of military vehicles from outside for the state’s security forces.
Recall Governor Alex Otti introduced 20 Hilux patrol vans that the administration had supplied to security agencies in the state after launching “operation crush,” a joint task force of the police, army, navy, and other pertinent security organisations, on Wednesday.
Nigerians, on the other hand, have criticised the governor for favouring a foreign business while disregarding homegrown firms like Nord and Innoson Motors.
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Nedu Ekeke, the deputy chief of staff to the governor of Abia, responded on Thursday by tweeting that Innoson did not have the trucks in the state when they were needed for quick military operations.
He wrote: “We have read the comments on Social Media about the Toyota Hilux vans the Abia State govt bought for a special security operation named: Operation Crush.
“We appreciate the feedback, especially as most commenters are coming from a place of love for country and support for the Alex Otti administration.
“The administration appreciates, more than anyone else, the need to patronize locally made goods. And this was why we had, upon assuming office, ordered more than 50 units of cars from the Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company. We currently have 20 unmet orders.”
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Some commissioners, according to Ekeke, don’t even have official vehicles, and the governor’s official car hasn’t even been delivered because he still drives his personal vehicle while he’s in office.
He added: “The military service commanders in Abia needed trucks for immediate take-off of the special operation and, unfortunately, Innoson had no such vehicles in stock.
“The government could not delay the operation as it places a premium on the lives and property of all Abians.
“We are, first and foremost, interested in stemming insecurity in the state, and we want to do it quickly. We were constrained by time and had to go for what was readily available.
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“This does not foreclose any prospect of future transactions with Innoson or any other local brand.
“We are open to honest feedback such as the one we have had in the last two days. We will always listen and respond. And even if we disagree with your perspective, we will still respond.”
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