The
Federal Government, in a bid to ensure the successful implementation of
its recently approved National Automotive Industry Development Plan,
said it would encourage local auto manufacturers to produce less
expensive models with price range of between N1.2m and N1.5m.
It also said it would collaborate with
auto manufacturers, franchise holders, reputable motor dealers and
selected banks to put in place an all-inclusive domestic dealership
network through which a user-friendly vehicle purchase scheme could be
funded by the National Automotive Council.
These are contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the NAC and obtained by our correspondent in Abuja.
The statement said, “Under market
development, the NAIDP anticipated that higher-end expensive models will
still be imported into the country in the initial stage, but the new
strategy is to encourage local auto manufacturers to focus primarily on
lower-end less expensive models with price range of between N1.2m and
N1.5m; which is affordable to the middle class, coupled with other
finance options.”
The statement added that the Minister of
Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, had constituted two
committees to ensure seamless implementation of the recently approved
automotive plan.
The first is the Automotive Industry
Policy Implementation and Monitoring Committee, with members drawn from
broad-based industry stakeholders, including the Nigerian Automotive
Manufacturers/Assemblers Association and the Automobile Local Content
Manufacturers Association.
Others are the Automobile Franchise
Holders (Mercedez Benz, Kia, Suzuki, CFAO, Toyota, Volvo, Globe Motors,
Dana, Balyn Motors, Metropolitan Motors), Used Vehicle Dealers
Association, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and the Original
Equipment Manufacturers.
The second body is the Inter Agency
Implementation Committee made up of representatives of relevant
government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including the Federal
ministries of Power, Solid Minerals and Federal Ministry of Finance,
Office of the National Security Adviser, Bank of Industry, Nigerian
Ports Authority, and Raw Materials Research and Development Council,
among others.
The Director-General, NAC, Mr. Aminu
Jalal, said in the statement that under the NAIDP skills development,
there would be extensive local and international manpower development
programmes aimed at ensuring that, over the next four to six years,
skilled positions in all auto industries in the country were occupied by
Nigerians.
To ensure that the cars produced are of
good quality, the statement said NAC was currently building automotive
component test centres and laboratories to conduct vehicle homologation
and other comprehensive tests of parts and components that would enhance
overall product quality.
The statement said, “Under investment
promotion, fiscal measures and patronage strategies are being introduced
to create enabling environment, allowing existing assembly plants to
flourish, while attracting new core investors like Nissan, Renault, GM
and Toyota; which had expressed interest, to establish plants in
Nigeria.
“For policy consistency, NAIDP is
formulated as a 10-year programme (2013-2024) subject to review after
five years while its major elements would be legislated over the next
two years.”
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