Auto assemblers blame FG as more government-approved vehicle plants go down – Newstrends
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Auto assemblers blame FG as more government-approved vehicle plants go down

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Stakeholders are worried that majority of over 60 automobile assembly plants licensed by the Federal Government over a period of nine years since the introduction of a new auto policy in Nigeria have been forced to close shop.

Precisely, Deputy Managing Director of CFAO Motors, Mr Kunle Jaiyesimi, said recently that only six of the registered auto assemblers are still running, working haphazardly.

Indeed, he said his company, CFAO Motors, which invested heavily in setting up a world-class Mitsubishi assembly plant in Lagos to churn out the brand buses and trucks had today converted the edifice into after-sale service centre.

The hope was high that Nigeria was on the path of total transformation in 2013 when the auto policy was introduced under the Goodluck Jonathan administration. The target was that the country was about to become the hub of West and East African auto industry producing new vehicles not only for Nigeria’s teeming population and high need to supplying to all the West and East African countries.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, said ahead of 2020 Argungu fishing festival and motor rally has that following the launch of the Nigeria Automotive Industry Development Plan ( NAIDP) in 2013, about 62 companies had been registered to assemble vehicles at both SKD and CKD levels, with a total installed capacity of 423,790 units.

But that enthusiasm, according to automakers, has thawed away and replaced with frustration and regrets.

Even Adeniyi gave the running plants could only boast of actual assemblage of 10, 343 units, a far cry from the target of 400,000 units annually.

Executive Director, Nigeria Automotive Manufacturers Association, Remi Olaofe, speaking in Abuja at a recent Auto CEOs Forum, said there was no way the local auto assemblers could break even without any serious support and patronage from the government.

“Nigerian auto operators are doing their best but they are not being encouraged at all. No single tyre is being manufacturer in the country since the exit of Dunlop and Michellin. How do we bring them back? What do we tell them? Nobody is in business to make losses. I do business to make money, not on sentiment.

“Many have invested billions in this auto business and we are not doing anything to support and keep them in business.”

Olaofe accused the Nigeria Customs Service of being “a pain in the neck of this business,” adding that they had practically ruined the business.

“Look at all the auto assembly lines of the plants in the country, they are virtually idle. People are allowed to cut corners and play the trick of winners take all and many are shut out. Nigeria ultimately loses. We don’t have correct industry data because of unhealthy rivalry in the business,” he said.

He also said, “The NADDC will not allow NAMA to function because NADDC is deriving pleasure in assemblers coming directly to it for aid. The Ministry of Finance will not allow NAMA to work because it wants operators to come to them individually with their problems so they could be ‘appreciated’.

“Look at Rwanda, they have overtaken us. What is the population of Ghana? It is now the toast of auto manufacturers and allied products’ investors. Every single auto assembler now is on its way to Ghana. “There is no need lying to one another. If we must develop the nation’s auto industry, we should do so genuinely.”

Chief Executive Officer, Nord Automobiles Limited, Oluwatobi Ajayi, maintained that the nation’s approved plants had the capacity to produce sufficient number of vehicles to cater for its immediate need only if there would be continuous patronage, duty rebate and tax holiday.

For instance, he said his assembly plant currently producing five vehicles per day could increase the number to 25 vehicles with the right support and raise it further to 50 per day with two shifts of operation.

The operators at the Abuja forum accused the Federal Government of failing to sign the enabling auto bill into law to support the business.

They also claimed that the Finance Act of 2020 introduced by the FG that reduced import duty on fully built vehicles to the same rate as Semi-Knocked Down components made it difficult for local assemblers to compete with FBU importers/dealers.

Jaiyesimi said, “There is no way we can compete with fully built vehicles that are coming into the country. Before, the import duty on FBU truck was 25% and suddenly they it was dropped to 10%, the same rate for SKD components of truck.”

He also berated some policymakers in government of jumping out of the country to hold crucial meetings with vehicle manufacturers without discussing with Nigeria’s representatives of those foreign companies.

He said, “We should not be thinking about estacode (travel allowance) in most cases. We should look at how things can work in this country.

“What is the fate of the auto policy now? When this initiative started in 2014, some of us raised concern then that it is not enough for some people to just wake up and put up a position paper about the industry without consulting widely the industry players and stakeholders.”

The current NADDC Director-General, Mr Jelani Aliyu, says the bill auto policy is undergoing some review and he is optimistic that it will be signed into law before the end of the year.

Since 2019, Aliyu had said the Automotive Industry Development Bill passed by the eighth National Assembly was awaiting the President’s.

Aliyu in an interview with the Punch then gave the names of nine firms assembling vehicles in the country as Peugeot Automobile Nigeria, Nissan Motors, Honda Motors, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company, Hyundai Motor Company, Ford Motor Company, GIC Motor Companies Ltd, JAC Motors and Kia Motors.

Nissan, Honda and Hyundai are operating under Stallion Autos which took over the old VON plant in Lagos.

President Muhammadu Buhari failed to give assent to the bill when it was sent to him at the beginning of this year due to some reported discrepancies and had to send it back to the National Assembly for a rework.

A few weeks ago, Aliyu said a revised national auto legislation that would fully guarantee investments in vehicle assembly plants, leading to a halt in importation of new and used automobiles would be enacted.

He told journalists in Sokoto that the NADDC was in talks with companies such as Toyota and Volkswagen to come and directly set up their production plants in Nigeria.

“The council is working to effectively implement an automotive policy agenda, with a view to bringing these companies back to Nigeria. They want to have a guarantee that regardless of whichever government is in power their investments will be protected,” Aliyu said.

But a former acting DG of the NADDC, Mr Luqman Mamudu, said there was nothing wrong with the auto policy, adding that adequate consultations and visits to countries for model examples were made with stakeholders when the policy document was being put together.

He however accused some self-serving auto operators of fielding the policymakers under the Muhammadu Buhari administration with lies about the policy, leading to the back-and-forth approach on the President’s assent for the  bill.

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.), represented at the CEOs Forum by Controller Musa Mba, said the agency only implemented the duty as directed by the finance ministry and the National Automotive Design and Development Council for industry with regard to vehicle imports.

He stressed the need for the genuine operators to be united and keep engaging the finance ministry on the duty issue.

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FRSC, sister agencies form JTF to arrest truck drivers conveying humans

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FRSC, sister agencies form JTF to arrest truck drivers conveying humans

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has inaugurated a Joint Task Force (JTF) with sister dedicated to arrest and prosecute trailer drivers conveying passengers along with goods.

This is contained in a statement by the spokesman for the FRSC, Jonas Agwu.

The move was to curb the menace of road traffic crashes associated with trailers.

According to the statement, the JTF is made up of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, state traffic management agencies and operatives of the Corps, along with representatives from various transport unions.

This came followed a tragic road traffic crash on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway last Monday night, which resulted in the loss of 10 lives.

The accident involving a DAF Trailer was attributed to excessive speed, overloading, and driver fatigue, highlighting the urgent need for stringent enforcement of road safety regulations.

Jonas said the inauguration was done on Saturday at the Kakau Tollgate in Kaduna State, marking the start of the phased deployment along critical expressways.

During the inauguration ceremony, the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Dauda Biu, underscored the pivotal role of the JTF in curbing the menace of road traffic crashes associated with trailers.

The corps marshal, represented by Assistant Corps Marshal, Federal Operations, Zubairu Mato, said, “In the last couple of months, the highways have witnessed incidences of road traffic crashes involving trailers loaded with goods, animals, and persons.”

Biu added the initiative was part of a broader effort to ensure the safety of road users and to enforce compliance with traffic laws, particularly those prohibiting the conveyance of passengers in vehicles designed for cargo.

Part of the statement read, “In order to reverse the ugly trend, the JTF were directed to embark on effective special patrol operations as well as conduct Mobile Court operations on the commissioned route. They are to also ensure immediate prosecution of apprehended offenders.

“The exercise will be carried out across major corridors nationwide. Consequently, owners of trailers are admonished to warn their drivers against this traffic violations as the Corps will not spare anyone caught in the act.”

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Toyota Nigeria presents nine schoolchildren for global dream car art contest + photos

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Toyota Nigeria presents nine schoolchildren for global dream car art contest

Toyota (Nigeria) Limited has honoured nine schoolchildren that emerged as national winners of the 2024 (17th) edition of the annual Toyota Dream Car Art contest.
According to the Managing Director of TNL, Mr Kunle Ade-Ojo, all nine drawings created by the nine winners have also been sent to Japan to compete with other winning drawings across the globe.


The latest national winners were celebrated and presented with top quality laptops, corporate gifts and certificates during a grand ceremony held on Saturday, 16th March, 2024, at TNL Corporate head office in Lekki, Lagos, to the admiration of their parents, Art teachers and well wishers that attended the colourful event.
Four of the winners are pupils of the Corona School, Lagos; two from Abuja-based Loyola Jesuit College; two from Avi-Cenna International School, and one from Vivian-Fowler Memorial College for Girls, Lagos.

All the categories this year were won by female contestants.


The competition organised for schoolchildren all over the world by Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Japan, in conjunction with its representatives in many countries, challenges them to draw their dream cars with an inspirational idea.
Last year, Nigeria’s Oluwademilade Odumuboni, a 9-year-old boy, then from Corona School Gbagada, Lagos, won the coveted prize, beating other contestants from over 90 countries.
His drawing, titled WASTE CONVERTER, with the concept of helping countries, especially African communities, in food production and ensuring clean environment, was adjudged the best globally in his age category.
All the current nine winners were invited to present their drawings and the idea behind it before receiving their prizes and certificates.
The three winners in the first category; 7 years and below, are all Corona School pupils. Wuraola Aderinsola Onaolapo (1st position), Myra Oyindamola Omokunga (2nd position), and Pemisire Zara Abayomi-John (3rd position).


For the 8-11 years category, the winners are Oluwalani Tamara Oshinubi (1st position), Sochikaima Nwizu (2nd position), and Vivian Ugooma Emeh (3rd position).
And in the third category for 12-15 years, Juditha Sree Reddyvari (1st position), Jiajia Miao (2nd position), and Ayopelumi Modupe Aboderin (3rd position) were unveiled.
TNL MD, Ade-Ojo, said the company chose to identify with the competition as part of its corporate social responsibilities by encouraging the children to develop their creativity and God-given talent.
He said, “We are doing this for the children. It is a means of developing their creativity and reminding them that anything is possible if they can dream. When they start young, it will also be part of them.
“Though it is costing us a lot of money, we are glad we are doing it so that the creativity in them does not diminish.”
Ade-Ojo also commended the teachers and parents for their support, adding, “Without their support, participating in this event would not have been possible.”
One of the parents, Mrs Opeyemi Aboderin, commended Toyota Nigeria for giving the children the opportunity to express their brilliant ideas through drawings.


She expressed gratitude to the company for the huge investment in the future of young children.
She also advised people to always encourage the youth to develop their skills and other talents.
The highpoint of the event was a special recognition given to the art teachers of the winning students.

All invitees were later treated to a grand reception.

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Updated: Weststar sets Nigeria’s auto landscape aglow, unveils new Mercedes-Benz E-Class

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Updated: Weststar sets Nigeria’s auto landscape aglow, unveils new Mercedes-Benz E-Class 

Weststar Associates Limited, the authorized distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Nigeria, has announced the arrival of the all-new Mercedes-Benz E-Class, a development expected to set the nation’s auto landscape aglow again.

The iconic vehicle is said to set new standards in luxury and innovation, bringing the legend and renowned heritage of the Mercedes-Benz brand to car lovers and enthusiasts in Nigeria.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is described as the epitome of meticulous craftsmanship and technological prowess, with its harmonious blend of cutting-edge technology, exquisite design and unparalleled performance.

Just like its predecessor, the new E-Class promises to redefine the automotive landscape in Nigeria and provide an unrivaled driving experience.

According to the auto firm, the new E-Class marks the advent of a new generation, introducing more technology and luxury.

Specifically, it says the powertrains are complemented by a fresh exterior design, creating a captivating presence on the road.

It says inside the car are new technology features permeating the cabin, providing a digital atmosphere that is both immersive and intelligent.

The new E-Class takes its digital experience to the next level with the all-new Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) Superscreen.This powerful central onboard computer processes information with remarkable speed, delivering near-instantaneous responsiveness.

It integrates a range of apps and games, including TikTok & Angry Birds, making it a versatile tool for both entertainment and productivity.

The Superscreen also introduces the Routines function, an intelligent feature that curates your driving experience based on various conditions and functions, automatically adjusting settings such as heating, cooling, ambient lighting, seat massage, and more.

The MBUX Superscreen also debuts video conferencing in the all-new E-Class, this is enabled by a built-in camera and applications like Webex& Zoom.

The standard Burmester® 4D surround sound system, complemented by Active Ambient Lighting, transforms music into a visual and auditory masterpiece. Coordinated colours and tones are illuminated on the instrument panel, elevating the music-listening experience.

The interior is designed to prioritize comfort and quality. The spacious passenger accommodation is graced with premium materials, including leather upholstery and metal trim, resulting in a rich and upscale ambiance.

The new E-Class remains a four-door layout, emphasizing passenger experience and convenience. It boasts of an aerodynamic design that not only enhances its appearance but also reduces wind noise. With the assistance of nearly 500 microphones, engineers have meticulously measured and minimized wind noise, ensuring a serene cabin environment even at high driving speeds.

The exterior design comes with a host of features such as light alloy wheels, chrome highlights, and a Mercedes-Benz pattern radiator grille.

Additionally, the new E-Class boasts flush-fitted doors and metallic paintwork.

The new E-Class comes with upgraded standard equipment that includes KEYLESS-GO, and the AVANTGARDE equipment line for the interior and exterior.

The new E-Class offers two remarkable powertrains to cater to diverse driving preferences. The E 200 model boasts an advanced 4-cylinder petrol engine with mild hybrid and 48-volt on-board electrical system, delivering a combined power output of 204 horsepower with a torque of 320nm.

While the E 300 model features tremendous pulling power even at low engine speeds, with its advanced 4-cylinder petrol engine with mild hybrid and 48-volt on-board electrical system, it delivers an even more powerful output to 258 horsepower and 400nm of torque.

The E-Class is also equipped with a 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic transmission, which ensures seamless power delivery, and its suspension system includes Airmatic air suspension with ADS+ continuously adjustable damping and rear-axle steering.

The rear-axle steering comes with up to 4.5 degrees of articulation.

At high speeds, this noticeably improves driving stability. While at low and medium speeds, the driver negotiates bends with more agility and benefits from a smaller turning circle when parking and maneuvering.

The firm says at Mercedes-Benz, safety always comes first. This is greatly emphasized in the new E-Class which is equipped with an array of new and extended driving assistance systems; including Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, PRE-SAFE® Impulse Side, Blind Spot Assist, and Active Parking Assist with PARKTRONIC.

This enhances driver safety and reduces workload, making driving more comfortable and secure for Nigerian road users.

According to the statement, the all-new Mercedes-Benz E-Class is now available nationwide at Weststar’s authorized Mercedes-Benz dealerships such as Barbedos Cars Limited, MB Automobile Services Limited, Skymit Motors Limited, Sunny Motors Limited, and Tetralog Nigeria Limited.

 

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