The National Automotive and Design Development Council (NADDC) is entering a partnership with the Bank of Industry (BOI) and Jaiz Bank on initiatives to spur made in Nigerian vehicles.
The partnership would be done in the next two months, a period within which Nigerians would be able to put down 10% or less for the purchase of new made in Nigeria vehicle and spread payment of the balance over a period of time.
This will spur local capacity and support the production of vehicles in the country.
The Director General, NADDC , Aliyu Jelani, said at a media briefing in Abuja, that in other nations. “you put down 15% you drive off with the vehicle and pay after a number of years’’.
This, he said, was technically non-existence in Nigeria.
“Presently we are building three automotive test centres, we are about 85% complete, we have one in Lagos to test emission, the second in Enugu to test components and the third in Zaria for materials.
“By the time this test centres are on line, any vehicle or components that is made, sold or brought into the country must be certified by NADDC before it can go on to the market, so as to ensure that Nigerians only have high standard of components.
“Nigerians face a lot of problems when something goes wrong with their vehicles.
“Most mechanics in Nigeria today are not qualified enough to diagnose the vehicles so the vehicle is either fixed or made worse, even when they understand what the problem is the parts itself are substandard.
“They either bring in brand new substandard or they may be either used parts.’’
NADDC, he said, regained its strength when it successfully brought back car manufacturing, such as Innosen motors, Hundai, and Peugeot.
“We still do not have the numbers we need to have but from zero we now have a couple of thousand vehicles that are made in Nigeria.’’
Innosen he said was doing very well.
Nigerian Automobile Industry Bill NAIDC is working in towards discouraging importation and supporting local production as a result we now have a number of manufacturer’s and producers in Nigeria.
“We are all aware of the huge challenge we have with electricity, water and connectivity in Nigeria.
“The NAIDB also have what we call structure development. We are currently in the process of building three industrial parks in Kaduna, Oshogbo and Nnewi, the one in Nnewi is most advanced, we already have a master plan done.
“We are working with Bank of Industry, Jaiz Bank and a number of stakeholders, we have discussed with a lot of manufacturers who will plug in and play in such a place like Nnewi.”
