FG Unveils Locally-assembled Vehicles, Seeks Patronage

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, on Monday appealed to Nigerians in the public and private sectors to patronise made-in-Nigeria vehicles in order to create jobs, build capacity, drive investment and conserve foreign exchange as well as aid the transfer of technology to citizens.

Speaking at the unveiling of locally-assembled vehicles, the minister said the country was moving forward in the area of automotive assembling, adding that from zero production level in 2012, the industry has recorded thousands of newly assembled vehicles.

He noted that since the launch of National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) in 2013, about 62 companies have been registered till date to assemble vehicles at both SKD and CKD levels with a combined installed capacity of 423,790 units, and actual assemblage of 10,343 units had been achieved so far.

Adebayo said 31 automotive assembly firms are currently listed under the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) for patronage by ministries, departments and agencies of government (MDAs).

He said the vehicles and brands unveiled represented a testament to the zeal and commitment of the automotive subsector to the present administration efforts towards diversification and development of the non-oil sector of the economy.

Adebayo praised the leadership qualities and competence of the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. Jelani Aliyu, in attracting investors across the world to invest in the country's automotive industry by "creating a level playing ground for all stakeholders through an enabled environment, revitalising, reviving and sustaining the growth of the sector.

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He noted that this had helped to stimulate growth and development of the sector as well as encouraged stakeholders to continue to partner the council towards the full implementation of NAIDP with its attendant multiplier effect on the economy.

In his remark, Aliyu, however, noted that the council hoped to make Nigeria an advanced hub of vehicle manufacturing in Africa, and discouraged the importation of fully-built vehicles preparatory to the takeoff of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) agreement.

He said if properly harnessed, the automotive industry could generate thousands of employment opportunities for the teeming youths, adding that "our viable future is one of productivity and innovation."

Also speaking at the occasion, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, further stressed the need to accord priority to locally-assembled vehicles.

He said enforcement and implementation of policies had continued to be a major challenge in courting local patronage of locally-manufactured products.

Nonetheless, he said the signing into law of Executive Order 3 by President Muhammadu Buhari would aid the implementation of the policy on locally made products, stressing that the country needed to move from mere statements of intent to actual implementation.

Minister of State Industry, Trade and Investment, Hadjia Mariam Katagum, however, expressed the hope that the automotive companies and their brands would continue to give and serve Nigerians with the best products.