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Global auto giants and top executives of leading brands interested in Nigeria’s auto sector have stormed the country as the 14th Lagos International Motor Show opens this Wednesday at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. The annual motor show is running concurrently with the 8th edition of the Lagos auto parts expo which opened at the same venue on Monday, May 6.
Chairman, organising committee of the event, Mr. Ifeanyi Agwu, who is also the Managing Director, BKG Exhibitions, said all the leading auto brands have confirmed their participation at the event, even as he explained that over 80 foreign firms from all parts of the world are already showcasing different world-class products and services from their stables at the auto parts expo.
He disclosed that top government officials and automobile big wigs from Nigeria and abroad are being expected at the opening ceremony, including the Director General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Jelani Aliyu and leading investors from China.
“A large number of the major brands of automobiles, spare parts, accessories, lubricants, banking, insurance, regulatory and policy making agencies and bodies are taking part,” Agwu said.
Explaining further, he said, “Though the sector is passing through a turbulent time in the country, the persistence of major players in participating in this event is attributable to the importance they attach to it as a key event for demonstrating and showcasing capabilities and potentials.
“We cannot but attribute their consistency to the strategic importance attached to it by all the stakeholders in the industry who have been hard working and making sacrifices here and then. It has been a collective effort and all hands have always been on deck, starting from the private sector to the various agencies of government both at the state and federal levels.”
Agwu maintained that the campaign slogan of the event, ‘Three Expos, Continental Spread” was informed by the determination of the organisers to champion the harnessing of markets in neighbouring and other countries as well as the development of the auto parts sub-sector as a leeway to fast-tracking the development of Nigeria’s automotive industry.
“In this edition, apart from the special emphasis on auto parts, we are going to promote the motorcycle and tricycle sub-sectors in line with their increasing roles in enhancing road transportation in Nigeria. The show will, as always, be used as a platform to make Nigeria the hub of the business in Africa,” he added.
“It’s going to be a bumper harvest for the numerous visitors to the event; their socio-economic status notwithstanding. Every visitor would gain one thing or the other at the fair as we have ensured that almost the interests of all segments of the society are adequately catered for at the fair.”
