By Louis Akpan, Port Harcourt
To ensure their security while moving to and from campaign grounds, Nigerian politicians have increased their demand for armoured vehicles in the build up to the February 14 and 28 general elections.
Because of this high demand, the International Armouring Corporation (IAC), Utah, United States (U.S.) has mandated its Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Thomas Fleenor, to write to other candidates contesting for the various offices to place order for the special vehicles “to ensure their security”.
In high demand is the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG bullet proof vehicle which costs N264 million ($1.4m) each.
This ‘special and monstrous’ Mercedes Benz vehicle is impervious to bullets, up to the kind of rounds in an AK-47, M16 or Israeli-made Uzi. Due to its special security features, it has been described as having more in common with a tank than a car.
Because of Nigeria’s volatile terrain, scores of candidates, last year, placed order for these vehicles, leading to increased productivity by IAC. And due to the ‘windfall from Nigerian clients within a short period’, the corporation has approached other candidates to place their order. Two agents are already in the country to ensure that money for such orders is paid in the next two weeks.
Demand for such vehicles is in high demand in the South-South area. The February 28 governorship election will hold in four of the six states in the South-South (Rivers, Cross River, Delta and Akwa Ibom) but the presidential, National Assembly and House of Assembly elections will hold in all the states, including Edo and Bayelsa. It was learnt that the ‘high demand’ for the special vehicle is due to the ‘militant tendency’ in the zone which is believed will go up in the first week in February. Already, thugs are on the rampage in Rivers State.
The letter, written by Fleenor on January 9, 2015, reads: “Dear Sir or Madam, My name is Thomas (Tom) Fleenor; I am the Executive VP of Sales & Marketing for International Armoring Corporation. I wanted to reach out to you and greet you a very Happy New Year. I hope that the new year is off to a great start for you as it has been for us.
“As you are likely aware with the serious spike in demand for armored vehicles for the African (Nigerian) Market, we would be interested in submitting articles and press releases.
“I also wanted to send a notification with regards to the current Spec units that we are building to send to Nigeria for immediate sale. Please, kindly respond to me with regards to the interest in the attached projects we have or if you might have future projects I can assist you with. Thank you for your time and I appreciate your business.
Kind Regards,
Thomas P. Fleenor
International Armoring Corporation
USA Office: 801.393.1075
USA Fax: 801.298.0858
USA Mobile: 801.725.2980
www.armormax.com
Skype: volsfan 1967”
The IAC is a designer and manufacturer of armoured cars, using light weight synthetic fiber armor laminates called Armormax. Established in Ogden, Utah, United States on May 6, 1993, it has 14 locations worldwide. It designs and moulds the armour to fit the vehicle rather than modifying the vehicle to fit the armour. IAC has produced over 6,000 vehicles that have been sent to clients in over 50 countries.
All design and material preparation is done in the company’s headquarters in Centerville, Utah and then shipped to its foreign facilities for installation.
