The Senate Committee on Industry, Trade and Investments says Nigeria’s leading auto manufacturers, ANAMMCO and Innoson, have the capacity to meet the nation’s vehicle demand if government agencies patronise them instead of foreign brands.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Adenigba Fadahunsi, stated this during an oversight visit to auto plants in Nnewi, Umunya and Enugu, where the lawmakers inspected production lines and ongoing vehicle refurbishment.

According to him, both companies have proven technical ability, manpower and foreign partnerships strong enough to supply vehicles needed by ministries, parastatals and state governments.

“We have found out that there are a lot of potentials being wasted because of non-patronage. If the federal and state governments patronise our indigenous car assemblers and manufacturers of CNG buses, Nigeria would be a better place instead of wasting foreign resources we don’t have to import vehicles,” he said.

Senator Fadahunsi said what ANAMMCO and Innoson need is policy support and funding assurance.

“There are no types of buses that the government is looking for that these manufacturers cannot produce. Before next year, you will see Nigerian-manufactured vehicles everywhere,” he said, adding that the Senate will push agencies to “stop buying refurbished jeeps” and instead buy locally assembled brands.

Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Oluwemimo Osanipin, said the inspection proved that local manufacturers can build and rebuild vehicles from scratch.

“Nigeria has the capacity to do great things in automobile. Some abandoned vehicles parked for years have been brought back to life. The multiplier effect on jobs – engineers, technicians, craftsmen, marketers – is massive,” he said.

He disclosed that legislation to strengthen investment in the auto industry is being reviewed to support the government’s Nigeria-first policy.

For Chief Operating Officer of ANAMMCO, Bennett Ejindu, the renewed attention rekindles hope.

He said that, “passing the National Automotive Industry Development Policy into law will assure investors that Nigeria is serious.

He added that, “In the 1970s and 80s, every government agency used Nigerian vehicles. Today traders import and sell more than investors who build here. That has to change.” (The Sun)