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The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) on Tuesday restated its commitment to strengthening the implementation of the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP), saying it would work with relevant stakeholders towards ensuring early enactment of the Auto Policy into law by the National Assembly.
The Auto Policy Bill has been pending in the National Assembly and stakeholders are of the view that would-be investors had been treading with caution because there is no law in place to protect their investment in the sector.
But when the national executive of the Nigeria Automobile Manufacturers Association (NAMA) led by its Chairman, Mr. Tokunbo Aromolaran (MD VON) and Vice Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Dutsinma Boyi (MD PAN), paid a courtesy visit on the NADDC Director General, Mr. Jelani Aliyu, in his office in Abuja, Aliyu gave his guests a firm assurance on the matter, adding that the Council would also put in place an affordable vehicle financing scheme which would enable Nigerians across the country to buy new made-in-Nigeria vehicles instead of patronising second-hand vehicles.
He said he would work very closely with NAMA and other stakeholders in the auto industry with a view to making Nigeria a major vehicle manufacturing hub, not just to meet national demand but also for exports.
Describing the recent appointment of Aliyu as the DG of the Automotive Council as placing a round peg in a round hole, NAMA Chairman, Aromolaran, in an early speech during the visit, expressed the determination of the stakeholders to work with the new Director-General in moving the auto industry in Nigeria to an enviable height. He said that the Auto Policy introduced about three years ago had succeeded in springing back active assembly operations and new investments in the auto industry.
However, Aromolaran requested for a period of grace to protect the young industries and enable them to grow to a stage where they could compete; and to also shield the auto industry from the menace of unrestricted dumping of second-hand vehicles in the country.
In his remarks, PAN MD, Boyi , expressed confidence in Aliyu, saying: “Active government policy is what can make the auto industry succeed. The auto policy needs to be strengthened and there is need to bring more impetus into the enforcement of the implementation timelines of the policy. We know that it is not an easy challenge but we have confidence in you to apply necessary drivers of success.”
