The Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA) has asked the Federal and state governments to support local assembly plants, through a strict policy of procuring their requirements from them.

Reacting to media reports that the Nigerian Senate is on the verge of buying various brands of imported (fully built) vehicles from importers, the management of NAMA pleaded with the Federal Government  for support to be able to sustain their operations under most challenging market conditions. Thousands of jobs are at stake at these assembly plants that have been commissioned  over the past two years with large investments in plant and machinery, equipment and training on technical skills.

NAMA recalled that in September, The Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr Aminu Jalal, promised that the Muhammadu Buhari administration would pursue the new automotive policy.

Jalal said that the president had repeatedly emphasised the government’s determination to diversify the economy through promotion, support and protection of the industrial sector. He underlined that the automotive sub-sector with sufficient capacity for mass employment was one of the major areas where the country had great potentials.

Jalal said that the Federal Government was committed to the patronage of Made-in-Nigeria automobiles. He said all federal ministries, departments and agencies were mandated to buy their vehicles from local assembly plants.

The local assemblers have invested extensively into assembly plants for multinational brands, including Nissan, Hyundai, Kia and Peugeot, amongst others.

Reports indicate that the management of the National Assembly has invited bids from contractors interested in supplying the vehicles. However, it seems that the brands considered are not being assembled in Nigeria, but are those that are being imported into the country as fully built units with no local value addition.

Industry sources lament that more economical and efficient models, such as the 4X4 vehicles of Hyundai, Kia,Innoson, Nissan, Ford and others are being assembled in Nigeria, awaiting government patronage for their sustenance.

NAMA has asked for the National Assembly and the Federal Government to play an exemplary role in their procurement policies so that the country could follow and establish a self-sufficient automotive eco system.