made in Nigeria

The Federal Government on Thursday flagged off a comprehensive sensitization campaign for patronage of made-in-Nigeria products and services in Southwest zone of the country.

This is part of activities marking the 13th National Council meeting of Industry, Trade and Investment (NCITI) in Ekiti State.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, flagged off the campaign at Ekiti Civic and Convention centre on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

He explained that the initiative is part of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) Strategy and National Economic Sustainability Programme (NESP) of the Federal Government to reposition the country’s economy.

He disclosed that patronage of locally-made products would create more jobs, promote indigenous product, reduce poverty and boost the development of Micro-, Small- and Medium-scale Enterprise, MSMEs across the country.

Adebayo, also revealed several policies and programmes that had been put in place by the Federal Government through the ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to reposition MSMEs as the engine room for wealth creation, economic transformation and development in the country.

At the event, where varieties of local products were exhibited, the Minister and Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, led other participants to inspect the various locally-made products and services that were showcased at the venue.

In his address, Dr Fayemi commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s investment into the development of MSMEs and for collaborating with states to provide solutions that deepen access to finance, market and resources.

Dr Fayemi explained that aside from creating enabling environment for MSMES to thrive in Ekiti, his administration in the last three years, through a collaborative multi-agency approach had attracted almost a US$ 100 million investments in agriculture, technology and infrastructural to the State.

He told the gathering that his administration has also introduced the use of technology to drive MSMEs in the State through the introduction of automated tax payment, business premises registration and other significant economic activities which had led to the attraction of more federal agencies like Standard Organization of Nigeria and Bank of Industry to the State.

The Governor disclosed that the completion of the State Civic and Convention Centre; which boasts of an upscale shopping area and the flagship of ultra modern Oja Oba in Ado-Ekiti, as well as model markets in all Local Government Areas would no doubt provide trading infrastructures for MSMEs businesses to thrive in the State.

Speaking further on other investment initiatives into the development of MSMEs in the State, Dr Fayemi said; “We also invested in several lending programmes to complement the work being done by the Federal Government.

Our Micro Finance and Enterprise Development Agency has facilitated loans to over 4,000 entrepreneurs in the State, with a commitment to do much more next year.

“This Government has earmarked over 50,000 hectares of land for agriculture and agri-business opportunities, and our Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone will be a platform to improve agricultural productivity, as well as a major driver of job creation.

“Finally, the development of Ekiti Knowledge Zone will ensure that Ekiti is a hub for technology businesses in Nigeria. We have started the processing of developing a bankable feasibility study for the zone, and selecting a core investor for the project.

“When this is done, we will approach the Nigeria Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA) to confer Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status on the Zone. On our part, no stone will be left unturned in our quest to develop MSMEs, who remain the engine of our economic growth.”

The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in collaboration with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has commissioned one billion dollars worth of locally-assembled vehicles.

The vehicles are locally produced by 17 companies including Coscharis, Nissan, Innoson, Ford and Elizade motors among others, that are pioneering made-in-Nigeria vehicles

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Adeniyi Adebayo, while commissioning the Nigeria-produced and assembled vehicles on Monday in Abuja said the vehicles would also later be used for “2020 Argungu Motor Rally’’.

The first ever Argungu motor rally will be flagged off by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.

Adebayo said that although the rally was an integral part of the Argungu Annual International Fishing and Cultural Festival, the NADDC had plans to turn it into an annual event for the local auto industry in Nigeria.

He said that Nigeria was moving forward in the area of automotive assembly adding that from zero production level in 2012 the industry had recorded tens of thousands of newly assembled vehicles in the country.

According to him, with the inauguration of the 10-year Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP 2013-2023) in 2013, about 62 companies have been registered to assemble vehicles.

The minister noted that the companies were registered to assemble vehicles at both Semi Knocked Down (SKD) and Completely Knocked Down (CKD) levels with a combined total installed capacity of 423,790 units.

He further said that an actual assemblage of 10,343 units had been achieved so far while 31 automotive assembly companies were currently listed under the Bureau of Public Procurement for patronage.

“The vehicles and brands for unveiling are a testament to the zeal and commitment of the automotive industrial subsector to the present government’s efforts towards diversification of the non-oil sector of the economy.

“The role of the NADDC in reviving and sustaining the automotive sector has greatly helped in stimulating growth and development in Nigerian automotive industry,’’ he said.

He however urged Nigerians to patronise made-in-Nigeria vehicles to create jobs, build capacity, drive investment, conserve foreign exchange and transfer technology to the citizens.

In a remark, Amb. Mariam Katagum, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and investment charged the auto companies to do more in the area of local content and have faith in Federal Government’s commitment to economy diversification.

Katagum, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Nasir Gwarzo, said that the unveiling of the vehicles that were also slated to take part in the Argungu Motor Rally showed what the Nigerian automotive industry could offer.

NADDC Director-General, Mr Jelani Aliyu, in a remark said that so far about one billion dollars had been invested by the auto companies whose cars were being unveiled while 4,700 people were directly employed in the sector.

He added that it set aside five billion naira towards a single digit vehicle finance scheme and was talking with banks such as Zenith, Wema and Jaiz to provide the financing for vehicles made in Nigeria.

According to him, the organisation is building three automotive testing centres and three automobile service hubs across the country to promote sustainability and maintenance culture.