*Govt to discourage used cars’ importation by March, says NAC D-G

CITING numerous economic benefits to the people of North East in particular and Nigeria, Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar inaugurated the Gombe-Kafanchan-Port’Harcourt and Gombe-Kafanchan-Kaduna intercity train services at the weekend.

        The Minister, who declared this at the Gombe railway station Sunday said the series of such commissioning in the last few weeks, followed the massive transformation of the rail transport system by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

    Meanwhile, the Director General of the National Automotive Council (NAC) Mr. Aminu Jalal, an engineer, has pledged that the purchase of used cars popularly known as ‘tokunbo’ by Nigerians would become a thing of the past by March this year as the country would no longer see the need for them.

    Jalal said at the weekend during the closing ceremony of the auto workers training organised by the council in partnership with SURE-P and SMEDAN that the council is working with a South Africa bank and other partners to introduce a vehicle purchase scheme which is expected to be operational by March. He added that the step would automatically put an end to the importation of used cars, as people would find it more convenient and rewarding to purchase new cars without unnecessary bottlenecks and stress.

    He said as a result of the restoration of the services in the last couple of weeks, a lot of interest and hopes are being rekindled and confidence in the President’s transformation agenda is being heightened.

    The occasion yesterday was also used to commission five number 68 seater air-conditioned coaches which is yet another milestone attained by the administration of Goodluck Jonathan in the transformation of the railways.

    The Minister reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to the restoration of full services along the Gombe-Maiduguri corridor as soon as the security situation substantially improves.

    In his speech, the Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo commended the Federal Government in restoring the railway transport system saying it has the capacity of creating 7,000 jobs in Gombe alone and would generally boost economic activities.

    He added that it would also cut not less than 50 percent cost of transportation of goods and services from the Gombe corridor to other parts of the country.

    Explaining the expanded operations of the NRC in the last couple of weeks, Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr. Adeseyi Sijuwade said extension of train services from Port-Harcourt through Middle-belt to Gombe in the North-East, communities and towns like Gombe, Alkaleri, Bauchi, Liman-Katagum, Bununu, Tafawa-Balewa, Heipang, Kuru, Kafanchan, Gudi, Mada, Lafiya, Agyaragu, Makurdi, Moi-Igbo, Eha-Amufu, Enugu, Afikpo, Ovim-Amaba, Umuahia-Ibeku, Omoba, Aba and Port-Harcourt are now fully linked by train service. 

    He added, “by the extension of the train services from Kafanchan to Kaduna, we have linked up the North-East, North-Central, South-East and South-South regions with the North-West and South-West regions by rail.”

  Jalal, who was represented by the Director, Industrial Infrastructure, Mr. Adetoro Kolapo said arrangement has been made for the citizens to be able to access loans at very low interest rates in order to take delivery of new vehicles which he said are already been manufactured in the country. 

    As part of the steps taken by the council that Nigeria has qualified auto mechanics who can service new models of vehicles in circulation, the DG said the council in partnership with the National University commission (NUC) has developed a curriculum for teaching and awarding bachelor of Engineering in Automotive Engineering (B.Eng) in Nigerian universities adding that a curricula and study texts for teaching auto mechanics has also been developed.

    His words, “The council also procured six sets of modern diagnostic tools and equipment for teaching of automotive mechatronics which were given as grant to selected polytechnics offering automotive engineering.  Four other institutions were also given diagnostic tools for teaching purposed”.

    Jalal also explained that automotive test laboratories under construction when operational would be useful in ensuring the safety and health of Nigerians as vehicle parts would be tested constantly to ensure that operators do not engage in any sharp practices by ways of importation or manufacturing of fake and substandard spare parts.

   He said the laboratories would also ensure local automotive content, ensure the good operation and maintenance of Nigerian vehicles and obtain capability of conduct homologation tests.   He added that contract for the furnishing of the laboratories with equipment would soon be awarded as the construction had gotten to 95 percent completion.