FG excited by gas-powered vehicle project, says NADDC boss

The Director-General, National Automotive Design and Development Council, Jelani Aliyu, says the Federal Government is excited about the gas-powered vehicles and will do everything possible to ensure the success of the project.
Already, he said the pilot project of converting one million vehicles from petrol to gas-powered engine by the end of this year was on course.
Aliyu, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the 15th edition of the annual Lagos Motor Fair organised by the BKG Exhibitions, also said the NADDC was working with major players in the auto industry in Nigeria to fast-track the transition to electric vehicles.
He said, “We are excited about the gas-powered vehicles and I’m particularly delighted to see some of them on display at this auto fair.
“We encourage other players to look at the auto gas project as the government is determined to make it work with plan to deliver one million vehicles converted from petrol to gas-powered by the end of the year.”
He also spoke on electric vehicles, stressing that it was imperative for Nigeria to join the rest of the world in the trending auto technology.

He recalled the recent exciting moment of launching and test-driving Hyundai Kona, the first Nigeria-assembled electric vehicle in Lagos and Abuja by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.
According to him, the auto policy is working in Nigeria and the FG has renewed its commitment to the survival and sustainability of the industry.
The NADDC boss said the government was working on the auto market development through infrastructural development.
He disclosed that all auto parts imported into the country as well as those locally fabricated would soon begin to undergo quality test at the NADDC auto test centres.
He added that the centres located in Lagos, Zaria and Enugu, would become functional between this year and next year.
He also said the NADDC was in the process of building six automotive training centres in each of the geo-political zones in the country to provide the needed skills for young people that could be employed in various auto workshops and factories.
He said efforts were being intensified for continuous patronage of made-in-Nigeria vehicles as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, the council is working with relevant government agencies to enforce the FG’s Executive Orders 3 and 5 which make it compulsory for government agencies to patronize only locally made vehicles in the country.
In his welcome address, Managing Director of BKG Exhibition, Mr Ifeanyi Agwu, called on the government to put in more efforts to revive the auto industry, noting that stakeholders were not facing trying times, owing to poor patronage and inconsistent government policies.
General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Communication of Coscharis Group, Mr Abiona Babarinde, urged the FG to provide the enabling environment for auto firms to make the industry a value-adding venture.

L-R: General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Communication, Coscharis Group, Babarinde Abiona; Director-General, NADDC, Jelani Aliyu; and Managing Director, BKG Exhibitions, Ifeanyi Agwu.