PAN, Stallion want govt to patronise locally made autos

4, 000 jobs at risk over failure to support automobile manufacturers, says NAMA chief

Against the backdrop of the Senate’s recent procurement of wholly imported vehicles, instead of comparable locally assembled brands, automotive stakeholders have appealed to the current administration at all levels to patronise the local industry, especially as it could save 4,000 jobs, with 50 suppliers also sustaining their means of livelihood.

Chairman of the Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association, NAMA, Tokunbo Aromolaran, at the weekend said the move was not only loathsome, but could risk about 4, 000 jobs and roughly 50 ancillary industries currently engaged by the home-grown Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs.)

Aromolaran said it was a rude shock to learn of the decision of the Senate to procure imported fully built SUVs when much more affordable locally assembled alternatives were offered.

At the event, Managing Director, ANAMMCO Limited, Maduabuchukwu Okeke too said, “We cannot over-emphasise the need for government support. The quality of our products compare favourably to similar products manufactured in various plants worldwide.”

A representative of PAN Nigeria Limited, Aderungboye Adewole said: “We have invested a substantial part of our resources and we urge the Senate reverses her decision and consider locally assembled vehicles.”

Similarly, Plant Head, Stallion NMN, manufacturers of Nissan, Prakash Karat, highlighted the need for a dependable policy that could drive vehicle manufacturing and enhance sales, adding that local plants shouldn’t be struggling to sell their inventory when a larger percentage of the country’s population are youths.

The local media had lately been saturated with reports of procurement by the Senate of indefinite units of Toyota Land Cruiser VXR V8 SUVs valued at a whopping sum of N3.9 billion.

Aromolaran continued, “May be the Senate was not aware of an official circular from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation mandating all government agencies to procure locally made vehicles and to procure imported vehicles only if locally assembled equivalents are not available.”

Aromolaran urged the Bureau of Public Procurement to beam its searchlights on the Senate to determine that it does not put itself outside the ambit of their control.

The NAMA chairman maintained that the automotive industry remain the viable answer to the Federal Government’s quest for a feasible economic and alternative to the plummeting oil revenue, remarking that the sector has ample potential for our Nigeria’s growth.