If you happen to drive Toyota Corollas or Volkswagen Golf and other ubiquitous car nameplates and models, chances are that you can be stopped by the Police, SARS, Soldiers, VIO and others to check your particulars, harass you or just ask “anything for us?”.
However, there are some vehicles that you drive that either confuses the military men as to who is driving or driven in such vehicles, hence they are cautious or do not stop you at all. This is because those vehicles are used by top Government officials, wealthy and powerful people, or security personnels.
Even if you are driving yourself, you may not be stopped, let alone when you tint the windows and/or cover the number plate.
Below are some of those vehicles:
1. Toyota Land Cruiser Prado: It is no news that Toyota vehicles is loved by Nigerians. The Toyota Landcruiser Prado is an executive SUV. This is used by the President (convoy), Senators, Politicians, top civil servants, the rich and their escorts. Almost all politicians has a Toyota Land cruiser Prado, at least as an official vehicle.
2. Lexus LX570: Step into a more luxurious SUV, comes the Lexus LX570. This SUV is worth about N100 million. The armoured version is the State car of Governors like; Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Senators, and the rich.
3. Rolls Royce Phantom: Any Rolls Royce vehicle is sure not for the poor. Be driven in a 300 million Naira Rolls Royce Phantom and no Police or military officer would stop you. They sure know that you must be a wealthy person and just a phone call to their superior can cost them their jobs. But if you are in this and the police stops you, check, it may be criminals – like thieves or kidnappers! Femi Otedola, DJ Cuppy, Emoney, Esama of Benin, The Igbinedions, Arthur Eze and others own this masterpiece.
4. BMW 760Li: This V12 powered luxurious car is sure not for boys. The armoured version was the official car of former Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode and the current Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, rich individuals and top government functionaries.
5. Mercedes Benz S560: Drive this and you are sure to confuse military personnel’s on checkpoints. This 61million Naira car is the official car of the president of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari. He unveiled it during his Swearing-in ceremony for second term in office on March 29th this year.
Drive in this and on approaching a checkpoint, a policeman may exclaim, “see Benz!” in admiration of the German masterpiece.
6. Bentley Mulsanne: This car is a billionaire status symbol and an alternative to Rolls Royce Phantom. From Linda Ikeji, who even bought one too for his son Jayce to Don Jazzy and other billionaires in Nigeria, only those who can drop about a 100 million Naira without sweat can get this.
7. Mercedes Benz G Wagon: Any recent model of G Wagon you drive signals anyone that you are rich. It is owned by politicians, the rich, and fraudsters alike. This is sure to confuse military personnels at check point because they wouldn’t know who is behind the wheel or driven in it, especially if the windows is tinted.
Any youngster you see drive this may be a politician’s child or that of the rich and the police do not want them to say, “do you know who my dad is?” For that alone can lead to trouble for them.
8. Range Rover: Range Rover is a luxury vehicle and the Range Rover Sentinel owned Cameroonian President is currently the most luxurious State car in Africa. Here in Nigeria, the armoured Vogue is the State car of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, Former Lagos State Governor, Ambode had one in his convoy, E-money, and so on.
9. Innoson IVM G80: From afar, it may be confused for a Mercedes G Wagon but it is actually a 2.4L, 4×4 made in Nigeria luxury SUV. The IVM G80 is currently one of the official vehicles of most top Military Officers, few rich Nigerians and top government functionaries.
10. Toyota Hilux: Well, this makes this list because it is widely used by security personnels in Nigeria, companies and private individuals. If you want to keep the security agents guessing, just tint your windows, get a Police “SPY” number plate or cover the number plate.
