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By Moses Akaigwe
•Auto parts on display at a previous edition of the Lagos Motor Fair and Auto Parts Expo
The organisers of the annual Lagos International Motor Fair & Africa Autoparts Expo, that features the Africa Motorcycle & Tricycle Expo, have disclosed that the forthcoming edition of the all-inclusive event is aimed at reinforcing their focus on enhancing the development and attainment of a thriving automotive industry in West Africa using Nigeria as the hub.
The organisers restated their commitment at a press briefing to unwrap preparations for this year’s event.
Speaking at the press briefing, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, the Chairman of the Organising committee, said, “We have been using the events over the years to drive more investment into automobile spare parts and accessories manufacturing in Nigeria as well as boosting aftermarket activities in the sector with the objective of showcasing the capacities and potentials of this important sector of the economy.”
The Lagos International Motor Fair & Africa Autoparts Expo is scheduled to hold from June 4 to 7, 2024, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Agwu further remarked, “Nigeria is endowed with natural as well as man-made resources to become one of the most vibrant automotive industry giant in the world” and as such we in partnership with other well minded players will always deploy all we can to see that the country attains this height sooner than expected. This informs our resolve to use our events despite the challenges which keep increasing to support the rapid growth of the industry.”
Agwu, who is also the Managing Director of BKG Exhibitions Limited, further revealed that to achieve the set goals, this edition of the event would focus on Business-To-Business interface between the exhibiting Original Equipment Manufacturers [OEMs] and dealers in auto parts from major auto parts across Nigeria and some neighbouring countries, which he said have been reached out to for the event.
“We are aiming at using such platform to see to working business partnerships between them and the OEMs that will lead to them setting up plants in Nigeria to manufacture parts and accessories”. The event is aiming at spurring the rapid springing up of companies that manufacture these components parts and use it to enhance the policy leading to the establishment of a virile automotive sector in the country.
The Chairman of the Organizing Committee advised the Federal Government to focus more on component and replacement parts manufacturing in place of assembling, arguing that spare parts is the place where the real technology transfer takes place.
He stressed that component and spare parts manufacturing involves precision and proper planning more than the coupling that takes place in assembling, adding that this will give rise to establishing of more Original Equipment Manufacturers and increase employment.
He called for a review of the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Programme (NAIDP 2023-2033) to make it achieve the desired ends in terms auto parts production.
“Organizing the event has been very challenging. We are only trying to find a way to push it as a key event in the sector. We cannot but use the event to draw the necessary attention to the sector. Government should bail out the automobile companies operating in the country. It is a sector that affects virtually everything. It occupies prime position in the economy. If it is not done now, it will in the very near future affect a whole lot in the life of the people and the economy. The challenges of hosting this event are becoming daunting, but our drive in continuing is that the sector must not be allowed to die.
“In conjunction with our foreign partners, we have reached out to many of such companies, and happily, the responses have been tremendous and we are expecting a lot of them. Over 100 Original Components Manufacturers from China, India, South Korea, South Africa, Singapore, Turkey, Nigeria, etc., as well as major automobile distributing/manufacturing companies in Nigeria will be showcasing at the event. Our intention in bringing them is to enable Nigerians and neighbouring West Africans engaged in automobile, spare parts, accessories, and allied businesses to work out rewarding and lasting business relationships with the main companies engaged in manufacturing these products and services.”
The organisers have also announced that there would be seminars/workshops going on simultaneously with the exhibition.
Each of the fair days would be “loaded with activities and events that will make this edition remarkably rewarding to the exhibitors, visitors, and other stakeholders,” Agwu hinted.
