A board member of the Nigeria Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA), Dr. Harpreet Singh, has proposed manufacturing of affordable models of popular automobile brands in Nigeria.
Singh, who is also the Managing Director of VON Automobile, a subsidiary of Stallion Group, made the submission at the Intra-African Trade Fair Road Show (IATF 2023) panel session that was held in Lagos.
Addressing attendees at a panel session titled, “What must Nigeria do to take advantage of the AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Agreement)”, Singh said the move would help the country to reap a full benefit of its AfCFTA membership and results in availability of quality and affordable automobiles for Nigerians.
The VON boss acknowledged the efforts made by the Nigerian government towards implementing the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) and what he described as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s resolute dream of transforming the country into the celebrated “Detroit of Africa.
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“In a remarkable display of leadership, the Nigerian government has taken decisive action by implementing the National Automotive Industry Development Plan. This innovative strategy aims to revive our beloved industry and captivate the attention of astute investors.
“To achieve this ambitious goal, it is imperative that we actively support the creation of additional car manufacturing plants, following the shining examples set by India, Egypt, and Brazil. These formidable establishments should primarily focus on producing affordable and popular brands, ensuring that remarkable vehicles are accessible to all Nigerians.”
Singh also called for letting loose the full potential of the nation’s automobile manufacturing capabilities by ramping up exports of the locally manufactured/ assembled product lines, including buses, trailers, semi-trailers and affordable passenger vehicles.
