The National Automotive Council (NAC) says Nigerians would soon be able to purchase brand new made in Nigeria cars for as low as N1.2 million. This is even as there are no standard foundry and forge companies with capacity to manufacture engine blocks and the Ajaokuta Steel Company is still in comatose. But NAC said it was working on the new National Automotive Industry Development Plan.
In addition, the agency said government 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.
“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, and 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.
“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.”