Rising Cases Of Kidnappings Causes High Demand For Bulletproof SUVs By VIPs, Wealthy Nigerians

Demand for bulletproof Sports Utility Vehicles increases amidst rise in kidnappings, insecurity in Nigeria, Punch reports.

Dealers told The PUNCH they had been recording increased sales of bulletproof SUVs Amidst the rising cases of kidnapping.

The alarming safety issues in the country has reportedly led to the high demand for customized bulletproof Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) by Very Important Persons (VIPs) and other wealthy Nigerians.

Amidst the rising cases of kidnapping and abduction across the country in recent months, personal safety has now become more of a prime concern than ever before in Nigeria.

Armored vehicle dealers in Nigeria, who spoke to The PUNCH, confirmed they had been recording increased sales of customised bulletproof SUVs since the kidnapping epidemic worsened.

Speaking on the demand for armored vehicles by VIPs, the Sales Manager, Inkas Armoured Vehicle Manufacturing Nigeria, Mr Haresh Jethmalanito, said :

“The demand for armoured vehicles has increased by multiple folds. The prices have also gone up because of the demand. Also, customs duties and foreign exchange rates have been major issues for us. They are one of the major reasons I cannot tell you who our clients have been.

“I cannot also tell you how much we have been selling them. But what I can tell you is that there has been an increase in demand for vehicles as a result of the situation in the country.”

The President, Armor Max Vehicles, Mark Burton, also confirmed that the demand for armored vehicles had increased.

Burton said :

“There has been a lot of demand. Our challenge has been the currency. Clients in most cases spend between $35,000 and $90,000 on the armouring plus the vehicle. Our armouring goods are imported into Nigeria. Costs have increased a lot due to the naira-to-dollar challenges.

“When we started building (our company) in Nigeria, it was N300 to $1. Now it is over N1,400 to $1. But violence and insecurity have created the need for our products. Armormax Nigeria has been successful and grown into other countries like Ghana and Cameroon.”

Credit : The Punch

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