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Barely a month after he met with automotive stakeholders in Lagos to unfold his agenda for the sector, the Director-General, National Automotive Development and Design Council (NADDC), Jelani Aliyu, appears to be walking his talk. Upon assumption of office as the new helmsman of the Automotive Council, Aliyu had promised to work with progressive stakeholders in order to move the sector forward. He also promised to initiate a design competition for the Nigerian youth in order to encourage them to design the Nigerian car of their dream. The internationally -acclaimed auto designer, whose exploits at General Motors in the U.S. are still there for all to see, is already pursuing the Nigerian Government’s agenda for the sector.
About three weeks ago, Aliyu announced the initiation of the automotive design competition as he had already inaugurated a committee to ensure the success of the competition. And in the course of this week, the NADDC boss left his comfort zone in the nation’s capital to visit a local auto assembly plant, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company in Nnewi, Imo State. The visit, which was his first to any auto plant in the country since he resumed duties, is considered as a proof of his readiness to work with Innoson as a progressive stakeholder.
Recall that Innoson recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Malian Government to supply 400 units of vehicles to the West African country, the first of its kind by any auto plant in Nigeria. On hand to welcome the NADDC boss was the Chairman of Innoson, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, who took the Director-General on a tour of the facility, showing him the different models of SUVs, cars and buses being assembled at the plant.
In his remarks during the tour, Aliyu expressed satisfaction with what he saw at the facility.
“I am very happy and excited to be at Innoson and to see the wonderful work being done. This is something that all Nigerians should be proud of, to see an indigenous automobile manufacturer producing cars right in Nnewi, making a significant contribution to the local and national economies, and to the development of the nation’s automotive sector,” he stated.
In a related development, the NADDC boss also paid an official visit to the Anambra State Governor , Willie Obiano, at the State House in Awka, where Aliyu promised to partner with the state government in turning the Nnewi Automotive Industrial Park to a centralised manufacturing hub for the production of Automotive Components and Vehicles, stressing that all the necessary infrastructure will be provided to allow manufacturing stakeholders to set up operations.
According to the Director General, “The Park will provide thousands of direct and multiplier effect jobs, and enable the transfer of relevant technical skills and technology. It will be a world class hub of advanced technology which will supply world standard components to feed both the automotive service and repair market and local assembly operations.
“The park will also be linked to global technology partners, beginning to prepare its relevant invested stakeholders with capabilities that would allow them to support the three upcoming global automotive megatrends of Electric Vehicles, Vehicle Autonomy and Ride Sharing.”
The Anambra State Governor could not help but promise to support the Federal Government’s plan for Nnewi by stating his government’s commitment and full support to the project even as promised to back this up by allocating land for the project whenever the Federal Government is ready.
