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By Moses Akaigwe
The federal and state governments have been advised to ensure that all the vehicles to be deployed as part of the measures to cushion the hardship resulting from the removal of fuel subsidy, are procured from within the country.
Giving this advice in a chat with newsmen in Lagos, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, Managing Director of BKG Exhibitions Limited, recommended that all the vehicles be purchased from automobile companies that have visible dealerships and presence in the country
Agwu stated that injecting the N100 billion for the 3,000 compressed natural gas, CNG-fuelled buses and other sums for the purchase of vehicles across the country into the domestic automotive industry would have tremendous impact on the sector.
According to him, the huge patronage would spur more activities that would fast track the development of the industry with the attendant socio-economic benefits to the people and the economy of Nigeria.
“We have companies in Nigeria that could meet up the demand as well as subsequent ones,” assured Agwu whose BKG Limited is Nigeria’s foremost exhibition/fairs organising firm and the force propelling the Lagos Motor Fair/Africa Autoparts Expo, as well as the Abuja International Motor/Nigeria Autoparts Expo.
He noted that the sector has suffered serious setbacks for over a decade now owing to the lukewarm attention by the government especially with the poor implementation of the National Automotive Industry Development Policy/Plan [NAIDP], which is in its 10th year of epileptic implementation.
He remarked: “No doubt, low sales and lack of clear-cut policy direction, amongst others, have been plaguing the industry which makes it to be in dire need of life support. Injecting the funds for the purchase of these vehicles will go a long way in restoring life and vibrancy to the industry.
“Procuring these vehicles from sources that are not playing big in the Nigerian market will only end in more capital flight out of the country and worsening the precarious state of the nation’s economy. More jobs will be created in the benefiting economies while unemployment persists in Nigeria.
“Most of the auto companies in Nigeria injected billions of Naira in setting up assembly plants in the country and have little or nothing to show for it. They must be encouraged and highly supported by the government through this and subsequent patronage.
“The government should not shut them out as used to the case in the past; they must enjoy this as they have suffered a lot plying their trade in the ever turbulent Nigerian market. “
Mr. Agwu whose company has been serving the automotive industry since 1998 through its motor fairs, urged the government to consider using the automotive industry in driving Nigeria’s economic development.
“I urge the new government to ensure that the automotive sector of the Nigerian economy remains in the front burner of its economic policy and programmes from the onset. “
The BKG boss called on the government to ensure that the sector benefits immensely from the N75 billion it proposed to spend in re-jigging the manufacturing sector; as it is the best assured sector that will help the government in creating massive employment opportunities in the economy.
Agwu called on the government at all levels to actively participate in the forthcoming Abuja International Motor Fair and Nigeria Autoparts Expo scheduled to hold from November 13-17, 2023, where they will have the opportunity to meet all these companies and assess their capacities and capabilities.
