Govt agencies under pressure over locally assembled vehicles

The Federal Government may have resolved to compel its ministries and agencies to buy locally assembled vehicles, in a fresh bid to revitilise the nations beleaguered automotive industry.The Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Mr. Samuel Ortom, said on Friday in Kano that a new policy was already being prepared to address various inadequacies in the auto business and encourage local industry players.He spoke during a facility tour of the National Trucks Manufacturing Company Kano, which was said to be producing less than 10 per cent of installed capacity.The minister was said to have expressed surprise at the quality of vehicles, including buses and sport utility vehicles, being assembled at the Kano auto factory.He said a memo on the need to impose sanctions on government agencies not patronising made-in-Nigeria vehicles had been sent to the Presidency to protect local plants.Apart from NTM, Pan Nigeria Limited, Anambra Motor Company and Innoson motor company based in Nnewi and some of the local auto plants complaining of low patronage.The minister said government was also discussing with other stakeholders in the automobile industry to ensure that the quality of locally produced vehicles could compete favourably with imported ones.Ortom said at a recent meeting, the local auto assemblers and other stakeholders presented position papers on how to tackle problems confronting the industry.He said NTM, which currently has three assembly lines and running only one shift, had the potential of increasing its production capacity with high demand for its products.The minister said, "Our problem is that of indiscipline and unwillingness to do the right thing. We must get it this time around. So, sanctions must be included because that is what people will understand."The Managing Director of NTM, Mr. Ibrahim Bayero, lamented the lack of political will to enforce governments policies that could improve the operation of local assembly plants.He said lack of protection from the Federal Government and policy summersault had adversely affected the operations of NTM.According to him, the company currently producing about 1,000 units, has an annual installed capacity for 10,000 vehicles.
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