CBN Governor, Directors Land A Helicopter For Test-run On Newly Constructed Multi-Million Naira Helipad In Abuja Headquarters
A helicopter in the early week of August landed on the newly built multi-million Naira helipad at the headquarters of the Central Bank of Nigeria in Abuja, as part of a test-run, SaharaReporters has gathered.
The new helipad was built for the use of the CBN governor, Yemi Cardoso, and his deputies, learnt on Saturday.
Cardoso and the top management team of the apex bank during the recent #EndBadGovernance protest from August 1 to 10 joined the helicopter at the CBN headquarters for the inaugural landing.
During the exercise, the helicopter successfully landed on the helipad in the CBN headquarters, Abuja.
“The CBN governor and his deputies for the first time tested helicopter landing at the CBN HQ so that they can start using it or for evacuation. They tested it during the last protest,” a top source at the apex bank said.
This is coming amid the cost-of-living crisis that has triggered unrest in the country which is also in view of the Bola Tinubu-led government’s change mantra, particularly in reducing cost of governance.
Few Days ago, Naija News House reported how Cardoso procured six armoured Lexus LX 600 2023 models for himself and four deputies, quoting. Daily Nigerian report.
The governor allegedly purchased six armoured Lexus LX 600 vehicles at a cost of over N10 billion, with each deputy governor receiving one vehicle and the governor retaining two for use in Lagos and Abuja, Daily Nigerian further reported.
Citing insider sources, additionally, the CBN reportedly bought 20 Toyota Camry cars for management and board members worths around N84million.
The sources according to the report, claimed that the governor and deputies had increased their annual housing allowances to approximately N1 billion, despite occupying official residences in Abuja.
Furthermore, they have allegedly upgraded their international travel privileges to first class and receive a nightly allowance of $7,000 for foreign trips.
Naija News House reports that Cardoso and the banks deputy governors’ namely Emem Usoro, Philip Ikeazor, Bala Bello and Sani Abdullahi, were nominated and confirmed by the Senate in September 2023.
The bank’s spending has raised questions about its priorities during a time of economic hardship in Nigeria, in which an average Nigerian cannot afford two square meals in a day.
Meanwhile, checks on the price of Lexus LX 600 on www.fox7austin.com shows that the full-size LX 600 is based on the latest Toyota Land Cruiser, which is a favorite of government agencies and aid organisations operating in hostile areas.
Options include a siren, fire suppression system, night vision cameras and escape hatches in case it is rolled or otherwise disabled.
Meanwhile, efforts to speak with the spokesperson of the CBN, Hakama Sidi-Ali, were unsuccessful as he neither answered his calls nor responded to a text message both on SMS and WhatsApp as of the time of filing this report.
