Ondo State Government has saved N463 million by reconditioning 30 broken down cars instead of buying new ones.
It had engaged the services of an automobile company, Logical Ideas Limited, to recondition serviceable and unserviceable vehicles in all ministries, extra-ministerial departments and agencies.
While handling over the vehicles, the company’s chairman, Mr. Oluwole Okunnuga, said the state government saved N463million on the 30 reconditioned cars.
He said government spent only N65 million on the 30 Toyota vehicles, which would have cost N528 million if they were bought new.
He explained that less than N3 million was spent on reconditioning each of the vehicles, the brand new lowest brand of which costs N15 million.
He stressed that the refurbished vehicles are better than fairly used ones and have a warranty of two years on the replaced brand new engines.
In his goodwill message, the state Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa, described the reconditioning of the vehicles as cost-effective and a reflection of a transformational leadership.
In his address, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, said his decision to refurbish all government vehicles was taken due to paucity of funds and cost effectiveness, considering the outrageous cost of procuring brand new ones.
The governor said the company was engaged to carry out a total overhauling of 284 vehicles in phases, adding that the move would save the state government a huge amount of money that otherwise would have been spent on new vehicles.
He said: “The vehicles we are receiving today is a clear evidence of prudent and logical decision at this time when there is paucity of fund in the state in particular and Nigeria in general.
“It is first of its kind in the history of this state and it is in tandem with our electioneering campaign to think a new and act a new.”
The governor, who called for the cultivation of maintenance culture among the users of the vehicle, stressed that there will be reward for any driver who handles the vehicle attached to him very well while those who do otherwise will be sanctioned.
