Experts back FG directive on gas-powered vehicles
Automotive experts and industry leaders have made a plea to Nigerians to patronise locally-made vehicle dealers.
They demanded increased local content in the automotive sector.
The appeal is a sequel to Monday’s directive by the Federal Government that all MDAs prioritise purchase of Compressed Natural Gas vehicles.
National Automotive Design And Development Council’s Director General, Joseph Osanipin says the government wants to move away from fossil fuels, and CNG is part of that plan.
This call was made at the West Africa Automotive Show in Lagos State.
Speaking at the conference holding on the sidelines of the three day exhibition, policy makers, business leaders and industry experts made compelling cases for Nigerians to look inwards in the patronage of vehicles especially by agencies or government.
Osanipin said that his presence at the event was “part of the commitment of government to the industry and that the Ministry of Trade and Industry was committed to the sector.”
In his remarks, President of Amalgamated Spare Parts and Motor Dealers Association, Ngozi Emechebe on his part gave assurances to attendees to the effect that ASPMDA has an excellent working relationship with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria.
The ASPMDA boss hinted that was to “ensure that genuine and indigenous motors parts were sold by traders and markets within its network leaving no room for counterfeiters.
“Please let’s buy what is ours. Let’s promote local contents,” he said.
On the other hands, Chairman and CEO of SAGLEV Electric Vehicles, Gbenga Faleye pitched for the “adoption of Electric Vehicles early enough towards leapfrogging Nigeria into a bigger league.”
Noting the benefits of EVs over internal combustion engines, Faleye, stressed, “Reduced acquisition and maintenance costs to reduced pollution and better environmental friendliness are some major benefits that places electric vehicles above other types.
He added that EVs have significant cost savings and enormous job creation and capacity building potentials.
The event had an array players with the automotive value chain from within and outside Nigeria with a large presence of Asian companies exhibiting.
A major highlight of the event is the display of Electric Vehicles which provided an avenue for many attendees to experience EVs for the first time.
