Bola Tinubu, the President, promised on Friday to speed up the approval of laws that will strengthen Nigeria’s car industry.
He encouraged local makers to focus on making high-quality, inexpensive cars for Nigerians, especially since his government just started a program to help people buy things on credit.
Tinubu said this during a visit from the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers and the Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association in Abuja, which was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila.
The President's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, confirmed this in a statement titled ‘Automotive Manufacturers Pay Courtesy Visit to President Tinubu.’
The group, led by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ms. Doris Uzoka-Anite, included the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Mr. Joseph Osanipin, and representatives from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and Executive Directors of Stallion Group, Toyota/CEAO, and NISSAN.
“He (Tinubu) promised to help with the quick approval of the law,” the statement said, also mentioning that locally made cars should be of the highest quality to support the government's efforts to improve the industry.
According to a spokesperson from one of the associations, the purpose of the visit was to update President Tinubu on the plans to start making cars and car parts in Nigeria.
They told the President’s Chief of Staff that a law to support the car industry was being written and looked over by the Federal Ministry of Justice.
They also stressed the industry's potential to create a lot of jobs for young Nigerians and reduce the need for foreign money.
Gbajabiamila thanked the group and assured them that the President is dedicated to making Nigeria more industrial with different policies.
He also urged the associations to focus on making cars that all Nigerians can afford, especially because of Tinubu’s plan to give a lot of people the chance to get cars and important things on credit.
