News: New Auto Policy to Create 700,000 Jobs - FG

The Nigerian government has said the new policy in the automotive industry is expected to generate about 700,000 direct and indirect jobs and boost both petrochemical and tyre sector of the nation’s economy.

Aminu Jalal, Director General of the Nigerian Automotive Council, (NAC) made this known at the 16th edition of Abuja Motor fair, organised by BKG Exhibitions Limited.

The director general, who was represented at the occasion by R.B. Salau, the agency’s Deputy Director, Administrations, maintained that the new policy will also salvage the honour and tastes of Nigerians and bring out the component of the new national industrial revolution plan.

This is even as the Vice President Namadi Sambo reiterated, that to achieve the full potentials of the new National Automotive Development Plan (NAIDP), all stakeholders in the automotive industry must support and key in to the project.

Represented by Olajumoke Akinjide, the Minister of State, FCT, the VP said government is working hard to promote manufacturing of automobiles as against importation into the country.

Sambo expressed optimism that soon made-in-Nigeria cars will jostle for space in motor fairs around the world, stressing that with tenacity of the organisers of the annual fair, Nigeria will become gateway to the African auto market.

The Vice President maintained that the commitment of this administration in the promotion of manufacturing and assemblage of automobiles as a strategy of launching Nigeria into the class of car manufacturing nations is without doubt.

“The necessity to move the country from a consumer nation to producers cannot be overemphasised. We hope that very soon, made-in-Nigeria cars will jostle for space in motor fairs both in Nigeria and globally, along with the Toyotas, the Hondas, and Peugeots of this world,’ stated the VP.

On his part, Bala Mohammed, the FCT minister, urged the auto dealers in the country to take advantage of the large parcel of land earmarked in Tunga-Maje, near Zuba by the FCT administration for automotive market.

According to the minister, the land will provide the benefits of localisation of the industry as well as build synergy and spin-off the necessary multiplier effects.

“I would like to remind automobile dealers and stakeholders of the large parcel of land earmarked by the FCT Administration in Tunga-Maje, near Zuba, for an Abuja Auto-mart.

“This is envisioned to stem the chaos in the sales of automobiles, especially of the secondhand type, in every nook and cranny of the city. It is, therefore, envisaged that the place will secure for dealers, the benefits of localisation of the industry, build synergy and spin-off the necessary multiplier effects,” he stated.

Ifeanyi Agwu, the managing director of BKG Exhibitions, called for a review of the new auto policy, saying it threw up new challenges which stakeholders did not envisage. He said a thorough review of the policy will ensure that a large number of players will remain viable in the industry.

Source: Business Day