LAGOS State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has lamented that the harsh operating environment and other challenges have become major factors facing local assembly plants in the country.

According to him, establishing local assembly plant in the country has been tough for local automobile companies including some state governments who wish to establish assembly plants.

He gave some of the problems as government’s inconsistent policies, power failure, non-protection of local market, bank’s high interest rate and lack of local sources of raw materials.

Besides, he said government policies still allow foreign importation of finished vehicles into the country, the heavy reliance on foreign input and other factors was the reason why most of the country’s renowned auto plants became moribund and collapsed of local markets.

The governor said that the sector remains a veritable development yardstick in measuring development of the country’s economy, adding the sector was only contributing as low as five per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product and providing employment to about 10 per cent of the country’s workforce.

Fashola, however, said that his administration has begun the process of establishing a bus production plant in Epe for the manufacture of big buses to support the BRT vehicles in the state.

Specifically, he said the plant would be solely for the production of locally made buses, adding that the pilot scheme for the project has reached an advanced stage.

He noted that the Epe plant would consist of state-of-the-art facility, where buses and spare parts would be manufactured and assembled for local markets.

The Managing Director, Zahav Automobile Nigeria Limited, Nasser Jammal, said the Federal Government’s clarion call for local companies to come in and set up assembly plants in the country was far from the truth, pointing out that government has not done enough to protect local manufacturers towards such patronage, since some automobile companies are still being allowed to import finished vehicles into the country.

Jammal, whose company is into the production of locally-made-in-Nigeria pick-up vehicles, blamed the government for the challenges facing manufacturers, adding that the sector cannot thrive unless government comes up with robust policy that will give first of right refusal to local manufacturers to dominate the local market.

blacksta: I hope Innoson gets involved

biafran soul: the hypocricy on this forum ala some peeps is so unbelievable. imagine it was FG that made that pronounciation without any tangible evidence..

eko ilee:

The only problem with your rubbish is GEJ can not make such pronouncement simply because he's too dull and incompetent,and he has no vision so its very impossible.


GEJ used to be a governor like fashola and he did not build a single bird cage so how is going to build buses?

His best vision and pronouncement so far is cassava bread.

Btw.. is GEJ your state governor? what about your own state governor? how come you people don't talk about them?

Because you people know they are useless and worthless so you don't even bother to talk about them...


Fashola is the least of your worries, you losers should pay more attention to your villages and your isi ewu do nothing governors..

Fashola, however, said that his administration has begun the process of establishing a bus production plant in Epe for the manufacture of big buses to support the BRT vehicles in the state.

t-something:
After this story of this so called plant which is at an advanced stage, the only pictures you could attach to support this story was Fashola's face and the picture of the 3 wise men. And already gullible Nigerians have already believed this scam and wish he was their President .

Ricky_Ross:

Guy I will advise u go check your BP, the way you shiver at the mention of GEJ name is alarming. OBJ misruled Nigeria for 8 years and you didnt say anything. GEJ is under 4 yrs and you are already crying fowl.

So far, GEJ is the best Nigerian president ever. No other Nigerian president has ever delivered so much projects under 3 years. I know bc I just left Nigeria last month. No matter how you rant online, GEJ will rule Nigeria beyond 2015. GEJ is not arrogant like OBJ and the rest, he is cool headed and doesn't make noise. We know the empty vessels makes the most noise. If GEJ decides to contests the next general election, he will win by a BIG margin and there is nothing you can do about it other than ranting on nairaland.

Fhemmmy: Nice one, but could start with nice way to make sure those buses are always on the road with good maintenance, but i give this guy kudo for great work
Buses purchased by BRT wont be enough to sustain a bus production plant

t-something:
After this story of this so called plant which is at an advanced stage, the only pictures you could attach to support this story was Fashola's face and the picture of the 3 wise men. And already gullible Nigerians have already believed this scam and wish he was their President .

Ricky_Ross: If GEJ made this announcement these ACN thugs would be here calling him names like retardeeen etc, but since na Fashola they are ready to even call him Jesu Kristi. I hate people that are biased and selfish. Fashola is working, he is one of the best governors in Nigeria but believe me he is over hyped.

This project is a welcomed development if it will materialize. These days I dont believe any politician till I see with my own naked eyes. Enough of these fake promises. Show us the factory when it is commissioned and we will praise and shout.