Nigerian car manufacturers are calling on all African nations in the region to collaborate and reduce the number of imported used vehicles coming into Nigeria.
This is aimed to fast track automotive industry policy regional development within the Economic of West African States ( ECOWAS).
The Nigerian car manufacturers; namely: Scoa Motors,and Volkswagen of Nigeria (VON) made the plea during a two day working visit of ECOWAS delegates to the companies in Lagos last week.
Speaking at the visit Managing director of VON, Mr. Tokunbo Aromolaran called for regional collaboration to stem the influx of use vehicles into the sub region even as he disclosed that there has been an improved volume of assembled vehicles in the region.
He said assembled vehicles in the region would reduce the cost of purchasing new vehicles as the customers would have option for choices.
Also speaking , Group Managing Director, Scoa Motore, Dr. Massad Boulos, said that local content should be integrated into the framework of the ECOWAS automotive industry policy, which according to him, will fast track regional development.
He said that local content would ensure that value chain was sustained through synergy with other sector of the economy to boost industrialisation.
Boulos stressed the need to break the impediments to free movement of goods, services and manpower within the ECOWAS sub region to fast track regional economic growth.
The director also urged the Nigerian government to initiate access to soft loans for customers to encourage and ease patronage of new vehicles.
He added that the company currently assembled 3,000 vehicles per annum.
He stated that "the objective of the automotive policy is to create jobs, build industries, but most especially making vehicles affordable for Nigerians"
On his part, Director Policy planning, National Automotive Council (NAC) Mr. Luqman Mamudu said that assembling of vehicles would enhance industrialisation, while also attracting investors to the region.
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