New Auto Policy To Create 700,000 Jobs –FG

               

The Federal Government has said that 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.

Director-General, Nigerian Automotive Council, NAC, Aminu Jalal, disclosed this yesterday at the opening ceremony of the 16th edition of Abuja Motor fair, organised by BKG Exhibitions Limited.

The NAC boss, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Administrations, Alhaji R.B. Salau, said that the new policy would also salvage the honour and tastes of Nigerians and bring out the component of the new national industrial revolution plan.

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

Represented by the Minister of State, FCT, Mrs. Olajumoke Akinjide, Sambo said that government would promote the manufacturing of automobiles in the country.

He expressed optimism that made-in-Nigeria cars would soon jostle for space in motor fairs around the world.

The vice-president stressed that with tenacity of the organisers of the annual fair, Nigeria would become a gateway to the African auto market.

“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 Nigeria from an automobile consumer nation to producers cannot be over emphasised. 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,” sambo said.

The FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, urged the automobile 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, build synergy and spin-off the necessary multiplier effects.

“This is envisioned to stem the chaos in the sales of automobiles, especially of the second-hand type in every nook and cranny of the city.”

Chairman of BKG Exhibitions, Mr. Ifeanyi Agwu, 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 would ensure that many players would remain viable in the industry.