As controversy continues to trail the planned purchase of luxury vehicles by federal lawmakers with many Nigerians criticising the idea, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Services, Sunday Karimi, has explained that members of the Senateand the House of Representatives choose foreign-made Sport Utility Vehicle (SUVs) Land Cruisers and Prados because of “quality and durability”.

Karimi, who represents Kogi West Senatorial District, in the 10th National Assembly, spoke during a live appearance on Channels Television’sPolitics Todayprogramme on Wednesday.

Asked why the lawmakers do not want a locally made vehicle, he said, “Today, we decided for Toyota because Toyota has a name and a longstanding name for quality and durability…As our local manufacturing companies develop, we are going to patronise them.”

Karimi said federal lawmakers “need the vehicles for oversights, to travel all over our constituencies”.

He added that purchasing utility vehicles isn’t illegal as Nigerian roads are verybad.

“If you look at Nigerian roads all over the Federation, we have a serious problem because nothing much has been done in the last years. Most of our roads are terribly bad,” he said.

On the choice of foreign-made brand of vehicles, the lawmaker said,“In future, as Nigerian manufacturing sector develops, we will (patronise them).” (Channels TV)