MINISTRIES, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have been barred from using foreign cars beginning from 2013, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, has disclosed.

The minister, speaking at the end-of-year media chat, during the second annual seminar for trade and investment correspondents and business editors, on Monday, in Abuja, stated that the directive, which he said was from President Goodluck Jonathan, was aimed at promoting made-in-Nigeria goods, conserve the foreign exchange ressrves and boost job creation in the country.

He said as from January 2013, it would be an offence for any MDA to buy foreign vehicles for official purposes, adding that failure to comply would attract a sanction.

Although, the minister observed that local vehicle plants might not be able to immediately meet local auto demands, he, however, stated that such MDAs needed to exercise patience, because the local plants would eventually meet their demands.

On the importance of patronising Nigerian made goods, the minister said the excuse of the poor quality of these goods by Nigerians had been addressed by the admonition to the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to see that goods coming into the markets were of high quality.

As part of the government investment climate reform programme, he said the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) had been able to achieve 24 hours registration service, while the country was able to attract foreign investment worth N8.9 billion to the economy in 2011.

With the 2011 feat, Aganga said Nigeria had become the most preferred investment destination in Africa and the world, as 20 per cent of world trade comes to Nigeria currently.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/component/k2/item/1336-no-more-foreign-cars-for-mdas-fg

http://www.punchng.com/business/industry/new-auto-policy-is-ready-minister/

Fantastic news. INNOSON Motors can easily meet all their vehicular demand. Great stuff.

Mr Chukwuma (CEO of Innoson) go dey dance Azonto, etighi and gangnam style now

This policy, if faithfully implemented, could potentially lead to d creation of millions of jobs for mechanical/electrical engineers, due to increased demand for locally-made cars.

Great news!

This president is a merchant of death. 2013, the year many government officials will die from sub-standard vehicles accident

floriana: This president is a merchant of death. 2013, the year many government officials will die from sub-standard vehicles accident

Instead of running your mouth, why don't you think of how to make a meaningful contribution towards creating standard vehicles? Abi which one you fit produce sef?

Nwanne, INNOSON egbugo ozu!!!

Ozonna: Nwanne, INNOSON egbugo ozu!!!

I kwuru eziokwu!

Joke. The FG should also bar itself from patronising "foreign cars".

Rossikk: Fantastic news. INNOSON Motors can easily meet all their vehicular demand. Great stuff.

erm they produce about 8000 vehicles annually

Good one

Come on, if not any, we all need Hilux for God sake.
Or is there a Nigerian Hilux equivalent

floriana: This president is a merchant of death. 2013, the year many government officials will die from sub-standard vehicles accident

Are you sane at all. Pls. what do you know about economics?

SWEET STATEMENT TO BE READ BY HE FAKE MINISTER BUT WE KNOW IN NIGERIA IS NOT POSSIBLE..........

WHO BE MUMU....... YOU, ME OR THE MINISTER??

Bullshittt

This may trigger some foreign car manufacturers to establish manufacturing plants here.

This is one of the most astonishing step the government has taking so far which we all support in maximum. They should also increase tax on foreign cars and some certain goods at least to 300%, in return will also create, improve our industry and boost job creation.

This is one of the best policies i believe will drive massive job creation,there is nothing wrong with Innoson Motors,it can compete with Honda,Kia,Toyota,BMW,Mercedes Benz of this world only that our penchant for foreign vehicles will never reduce.
Take for example my brother ride this brand of Innoson car and it is working perfectly for more than a year he has been using it.These vehicles are configured and built in such a way to survive the rugged and tough Nigerian environment compare to the brands have mentioned above.

***Singing***
Never ending story, ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah, Never ending story....

Is it not the same government that imported cars for senators and traditional chiefs?

Are they manufacturin car in Nigeria or assembling? Cos i knw at the moment Naija cannot manufacture motor cycle talkless of car.

My advice to Innoson Motors is to get listed on the floor of Nigerian Stock Exchange for wide visibility and possibly raise fund i am ready to buy into its shares

weird..

See better market for INNOSON!

Cnt wait to re-vote GEJ come 2015.....anyways,more job opportunity n economic boom for Anambra state...let's go there Innoson

Hope the directive includes d presidential fleet, practice what u preach

A good step but in the wrong direction.

Why not start with vegetable oil. We can easily meet the local demand but the imported ones has and are still forcing local producers out of business.

Ok what about reviving the textile plants which have the capacity to meet local demands and save foreign exchange.

Cement nko. The list is endless but they started with cars.

I hope it works though but ...

Time will tell.

This oga Jona sef

I guess it's a case of 'do what I say, not what I do', otherwise, I hope the presidency would not exempt itself from this policy. It would be sheer hypocrisy for GEJ and Sambo to retain their high-end S-Class Mercedes cars, while expecting ministries to settle for locally produced cars.

In any case, Innoson alone cannot meet the demand from all MDAs, with offices across the country. As always, the government prefers to act first and think later.

a1solution: Are they manufacturin car in Nigeria or assembling? Cos i knw at the moment Naija cannot manufacture motor cycle talkless of car.

Innoson motors has started manufacturing nigerian indigenous pick-ups, SUVs and heavy-duty trucks, since about two years ago...

CFCfan: Mr Chukwuma (CEO of Innoson) go dey dance Azonto, etighi and gangnam style now

This policy, if faithfully implemented, could potentially lead to d creation of millions of jobs for mechanical/electrical engineers, due to increased demand for locally-made cars.

I guess you mean technicians and technologist. It's time for poly graduates and trades people to enjoy.

hakunajay:

Instead of running your mouth, why don't you think of how to make a meaningful contribution towards creating standard vehicles? Abi which one you fit produce sef?

No mind am, he probably works for Dana cars or elizade motors. Even all the new Toyota, kia, Hyundai, and Honda are substandard. It's only in Nigeria that you would by a 2012 kia with no Airbag!

Good one for innoson. With time, support and good sales, he would introduce good continuous improvement policies in his factories. I hope he focuses more on manufacturing and not assembling.

This is a good policy if it will be conscentiously sustained,the fedral government should also fix the refineries because petroleum products eat deep on our foreign exchange.

INNOSON Motors for sale!

floriana: This president is a merchant of death. 2013, the year many government officials will die from sub-standard vehicles accident

Mumu! wot substandard are u talking about? for the past 2 years Enugu state govt has been using Innoson for mass transit in enugu metropolis. The young shall grow, ABC, etc has been using IVM buses to transverse east to lagos and east to Abuja etc and there has not been any recorded failure with the buses. This December many passengers will enter IVM mini Buses, Hummer buses etc and safely shall they get to their destinations. keep hating.

Empty barrels makes the loudest noise, wot have u contributed to Nig?