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NADDC to partner UAE firm on production of solar-powered tractors  

The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) says it will partner a UAE-based firm to produce solar-powered tractors.  

The Director-General (DG) of the council, Mr Jelani Aliyu, disclosed this shortly after participating as a panelist at the Electric Vehicle Innovation Summit (EVIS), in Abu Dhabi, UAE, which was held from May 23 to May 25.  

The summit brought together researchers, engineers, government officials, and electric vehicle companies and institutions from around the world.  

They explored and discussed the technical, policy and market achievements and potentials in e-mobility.  

The DG spoke on the current Nigerian achievements in e-mobility, and elaborated on the strong potentials in the sector in Nigeria and Africa.  

Aliyu also had a talk with a number of executives, including the delegation of a firm that produces solar-powered agricultural tractors.  

The discussion was with a view to collaborating with the company in the local production of tractors and make them available to Nigerian farmers.  

This engagement was also in order to cost-effectively promote food production and sufficiency in the nation.  

Aliyu later paid a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed Dansatta.  

The Ambassador thanked him for the visit and acknowledged the good work of Aliyu in developing the automotive industry in Nigeria, while urging him to continue with his efforts.  

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Council floats N200bn vehicle financing scheme  

Alhaji Jelani Aliyu, Director-General (DG), National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), says the organization has floated a N200 billion vehicle financing scheme.  

This, the DG said is to enable more Nigerians own vehicles without necessarily paying for them like it is being done in other developed climes.  

Aliyu disclosed this in Sokoto on Sunday when he addressed newsmen on efforts of the council to discourage the massive importation of used vehicles into Nigeria.  

He said: “It is one thing to produce a vehicle and it is another thing to sell it, especially in this environment we live in Nigeria.  

“We know that the purchasing power of the average Nigerian is very low.  

“Around the world, people have been earning more and more relatively, but in Nigeria the market forces have made it so that Nigerians actually earn less.  

“What an average worker, at a particular grade level, let’s say in a Ministry in 1975, could buy with his salary, that same officer now is unable to do that.  

“This is because of inflation and what happened to our economy, as global market forces determine the prices of vehicles, just like crude oil, gold and diamonds.”  

Aliyu said that the average Nigerian has over time become unable to buy a brand new vehicle like they used to do in the 1970s and 1980s.  

The DG added that in other places around the world, people get new vehicles on credit by putting in 5 or 10 per cent of their costs.  

“Then you take the vehicle home and you pay over a period of 4, 5 or 6 years.  

“In Nigeria, that is basically non existent and we want to change that.  

“If you want a new vehicle, you are expected to put all the money down before you drive it home.  

“So, people are unable to buy these new cars,” the NADDC boss added.  

Aliyu further said that the council is discussing with the Central Bank of Nigeria, Jaiz, Wema and Zenith Banks to provide a single-digit auto financing.  

This, the director-general stated, is to assist Nigerians to be able to buy Made-in-Nigeria vehicles.  

Aliyu said: “We are hoping to get the necessary approval so that Nigerians can just put down 10 per cent and take a brand new vehicle home and you pay the remaining debt over 4, 5 or 6 years.  

“We believe this will help Nigerians to buy these vehicles and we have as part of our budget, some money for this.”