FG moves to check importation of used cars

The Director General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Engr. Aminu Jalal, yesterday said the federal government had made it compulsory for made in Nigeria vehicles to be patronized to boost the automobile industry and reduce importation of used cars.
Speaking at a workshop for assessors in the automobile industry held in conjunction with the National Board for Technical Education in Kaduna, Jalal said he was optimistic that the importation of fairly used vehicles would reduce if the national automotive industrialization development plan is implemented.
Represented by the director of infrastructure in the council, Abdulwaheed Adetoro, Jalal stressed that the mandate of the council is to ensure the sustainable development of the automotive industry with local resources.
“Right now, the automotive council has taken cognizance of the need to promote and boost the market, particularly for local manufacturers, there must be enough market for them to sell. This will lead to reduction in the importation of used vehicles. That is why government has approved the mandatory patronage of local goods, especially vehicles. When states queue into this mandatory patronage, the influx of tokumbo vehicles will reduce”, he said.
He added that the council is collaborating with the West Bank of South Africa to inject more funds into a vehicle financing scheme to  encourage manufacturing of local vehicles.
He said: “Internal markets will be created for local vehicles. If you use your vehicle for two or three years and you want a new one, the current value of your vehicle will be ascertained and you will take it to the assembly plant and they will change it for you, with this, gradually, tokumbo vehicles will be phased out”.
 NBTE Executive Secretary, Dr. Masaudu Adamu Kazaure, said the board had sponsored the training of 91 quality assurance assessors, adding that the NADDC had supported in equipping some polytechnics and technical colleges with training equipments.