A board member of the Nigeria Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA), Dr Harpreet Singh, has proposed manufacturing affordable models of popular automobile brands in Nigeria.
Singh, who is also the Managing Director of VON Automobile, a subsidiary of Stallion Group, submitted to the Intra-African Trade Fair Road Show (IATF 2023) held in Lagos.

Addressing attendees at a panel titled: ‘What must Nigeria do to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)’, Singh said the move would help the country to reap the full benefits of its AfCFTA membership and result in the availability of quality and affordable automobiles for Nigerians.

The VON boss acknowledged efforts made by the Nigerian government towards implementing the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) and what he described as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s resolute dreams of transforming the country into the “Detroit of Africa”.

He said: “The Nigerian government has taken decisive action by implementing the NAIDP. This innovative strategy aims to revive our beloved industry and captivate the attention of astute investors.

“To achieve this ambitious goal, it is imperative that we actively support the creation of additional car manufacturing plants, following the shining examples set by India, Egypt, and Brazil. These formidable establishments should primarily focus on producing affordable and popular brands, ensuring that remarkable vehicles are accessible to all Nigerians.”

Singh also called for letting loose the full potential of the nation’s automobile manufacturing capabilities by ramping up exports of the locally manufactured/ assembled product lines, including buses, trailers, semi-trailers, and affordable passenger vehicles.

By doing so, he stressed: “We can effectively utilize our production capacity and benefit from economies of scale, catapulting our industry to newfound heights.”

He equally appealed for more incentives to the nation’s pioneering auto industry investors including VON, Peugeot, IVM, Nissan, and Hyundai toward local automobile manufacturing

He said: “By improving our investment climate, we can attract foreign investors keen on establishing large assembly and manufacturing plants. This exciting prospect will ensure that we meet the ever-increasing demand for vehicles throughout the African continent.”

He described the upcoming IATF as a remarkable platform dedicated to promoting trade and fostering economic cooperation among African nations.

“It is with great excitement,” he enthused, “that we look ahead to the main event, the AfCFTA marketplace, set to grace the enchanting city of Cairo, Egypt, from the 9 to 15 of November 2023.”