Sen. Fadahunsi decries low patronage of made in Nigeria automobiles

Sen. Francis Fadahunsi, Chairman, Senate Committee on Industry has expressed dismay over the low patronage of made in Nigeria automobiles by the federal and state governments in the country.

Fadahunsi made the observation when the committee members visited Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company (ANAMMCO) in Enugu on Friday.

The chairman said they found out from the visit that there were lots of potentials that were wasting in Innoson Motors and ANAMMCO because of non-patronage of the federal and state governments.

According to him, if the federal and state governments are patronising our indigenous vehicle assemblers, manufacturers and CNG buses, Nigeria will be a better place instead of wasting our money and foreign resources to import vehicles.

“What we have seen in Enugu and Anambra is in line with the President’s New Hope Agenda. There are no types of buses that government is looking for that these local assemblers and manufacturers cannot produce.

“What they need is a legal backing and funds by the same federal government that established them to carry on.

“Their foreign partners are physically present imparting technical knowledge on them and before next year, you will see that Nigerian manufactured vehicles are everywhere,” he said.

He called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies to patronise made in Nigeria vehicles, adding that in buying them, they would be reinvesting into the economy and creating jobs for unemployed youths.

Fadahunsi also said that the Senate Committee would convince their colleagues to start patronising vehicles produced in Nigeria and assist in enacting bills to make them thrive.

Mr Oluwemimo Osanipin, Director-General of National Automotive Design and Development Council, (NADDC), commended the committee for the oversight function, adding that automobile sector had capacity to generate a lot of multiplier effects in the economy.

He tasked governments on policies that would encourage buying of local manufactured goods and stimulate the demand which also allowed individuals to buy.

“That is why government is pushing for credit scheme through credit card and legislations that will promote investment in auto sector.

“So the legislation has been looked into and this will equip the legislators to know when to come in and appreciate the need for that bill to be passed faster,” he said.

Osanipin added that the committee’s visit would offer them opportunity to identify the challenges of auto operators and areas needing support.

The Chief Operating Officer of ANAMMCO, Mr Bennett Ejindu, described the visit as a “positive development” saying it underscored the importance the President Bola Tinubu administration and Senate attached to industrial development.

Ejindu recalled that ANAMMCO was set up in 1970s, saying, “It gives me a kind of hope that the authorities within Nigeria, both those making laws and those executing it are interested in reviving automotive manufacturing in Nigeria”.

He stated that the abandonment of the industry between 1970 and 1986, made the world to think that Nigeria was not serious about developing the automotive industry.

The operating officer added that governments could also assist to resurrect the industry through direct involvement and creation of enabling environment for the industry to thrive.

“But with the interest that we are seeing now from the government, it gives us a kind of hope that things will turn around. This firm has potentials to manufacture vehicles for Nigerians,” he said.

Listing infrastructure as the major challenge of automobile companies in Nigeria, Ejindu called for the passage of National Automotive Industry Development Policy, (NAIDP) bill to build investors confidence on the country’s automobile industry.