Political economist, Pat Utomi, has urged Nigerian public servants to shun the use of taxpayers’ money for luxury purchases such as Land Cruisers and new presidential jets, describing such spending as “unjust” in a country where many citizens “struggle” to afford one meal a day.

“If you’re using public money, please don’t use it to buy a Land Cruiser,” Utomi said on Channels Television’s Hard Copy, aired on Friday.

“Go around as a permanent secretary in a Toyota Corolla, please; it is a public resource. If you’re president, please don’t buy a new presidential jet. South Africa’s president used to travel around Africa in business class. I have sat in the same aircraft class as Thabo Mbeki when he was president of South Africa,” the economist said.

The 69-year-old drew comparisons with Egypt, noting the country’s infrastructural strides despite its leaders’ modest lifestyle choices.

“Go to Cairo in Egypt. See the remarkable infrastructure revolution that has taken place, power, they have twice as much as they need and strategies to keep having a buffer. New Cairo is going up, but look around and see what their elites drive, they’re in Peugeot 504s, they’re in Toyota Corollas.

“Abuja, you all are driving big SUVs, money going out of the country for what we don’t produce. I don’t have anything against SUVs; if you earn it, please buy your SUV,” he said.