The Nigeria auto manufacturing mission took another dimension on Tuesday, last week as Ford Motor Company unveiled first vehicle to come off its new assembly plant located in Lagos ,Nigeria.
The Nigeria-based Ford company assured that the company will assembly 10 units of vehicles par day and that it will create over 180 jobs for Nigerians
In his address at the occasion, Jeff Nemeth, President and CEO, Ford Motor Company of Sub-Saharan Africa region, described new Ford plant in Nigeria as part of his company’s ambitious expansion in Africa and continuation of its commitment towards helping Africa’s economic development.
According to him, the facility will accommodate one shift and produce an initial 10 units per day for the Nigerian market, creating approximately 180 direct and indirect jobs and gradually expand over time.
The Ford boss stated that “New assembly operations, even on a small scale, have positive knock-on effects in the local economy and workforce,”
He added that “Africa is one of the youngest markets in the world and presents a huge opportunity in terms of consumption."
“The buying power of the African consumer is on the rise, as the continent’s middle class increases exponentially."
" Despite infrastructure challenges, Africa has demonstrated impressive returns on foreign direct investment.”
The Ford Ranger trucks will be assembled at a semi-knockdown level, using body parts and components imported from Ford’s Silverton Assembly Plant in South Africa.
“In line with the operating procedures for Ford plants around the world pointing out that “Ford will send experienced employees to Nigeria to assist with implementing the Global Ford Production System, which focuses on the highest standards for safety, quality and delivery.”
Ford Ranger, he said was built, last week, in the facility with Ford’s Nigerian partners, Coscharis.
Also speaking, President and CEO of Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka, described the take-off of Ford’s plant as an important milestone in the nation’s journey towards industrialization.
“We have worked hard and moved quickly to turn this dream into a reality,” recalled Dr. Maduka
He added that:“Today marks an important milestone when the cogs in the wheel really start to turn, not only for Ford in Nigeria, but in general for the Nigerian industry, which is receiving a much needed boost towards industrialisation and the development of the automotive industry.
First Nigeria’s Ford Ranger after rolling out of its brand new assembly line in Ikeja, Lagos
“We are committed to setting the bar high, and establishing world-class, best practices in Nigeria that every other industrialist will have to be judged by. This is a major milestone for us and marks another first in the evolution of our company.”
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