Rasheed Bisiriyu
The Federal Government may have directed its Ministries, Departments and Agencies to henceforth patronise local auto assembly plants for their vehicle needs as a way to keep the industry running and improve the nation’s economy.
It is also projected that the gesture will form the plank for generating thousands of jobs.
This indication emerged on Tuesday, a day after President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated 283 locally assembled vehicles purchased by the Federal Road Safety Corps to boost its operations nationwide.
The vehicles, which included patrol cars, rescue buses and tow trucks, were supplied by Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited and Nissan Nigeria, a subsidiary of Stallion Autos.
About two weeks ago, local vehicles assemblers had decried the lack of patronage of their products by the government and its agencies.
Speaking on behalf of the assemblers, the Chairman, Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association, Mr. Tokunbo Aromolaran, specifically criticised the Senate for allegedly splashing about N3.9bn on the purchase of 108 high-end Sport Utility Vehicles for each of its senators, at a unit cost of N36.5m.
NAMA also said the Senate could have saved about N1.47bn on the amount voted for the vehicles had it opted for Nigeria-assembled SUVs.
It, however, was reliably gathered on Tuesday that Buhari’s directive to all the MDAs on new operational vehicles made the FRSC to restrict the vehicle purchase to Nigeria-assembled brands.
It was, however, not clear if the ministers, chief executive officers, directors and other top officials of the government would be compelled to use only vehicles built in Nigeria as official cars.
The injection of 283 vehicles to the FRSC’s fleet was said to be the first time such large number of operational vehicles would be introduced at a go in the 28 year history of the corps.
Buhari, who was represented at the inauguration by the Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd), said, “My administration has remained unrelenting in its commitment to the provision of road infrastructure and capacity development of staff members of the Federal Road Safety Corps including the provision of facilities that could enhance effective management of the nation’s highways.
He commended the efforts of the corps’ personnel for their steadfast and commitment to duties, which had helped reduce the number of road accidents and earned the organisation international recognition and accolades.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, said the deployment of the 283 vehicles in the various patrol operations of the FRSC nationwide would lead to safer roads, boost the travellers’ confidence and encourage tourism activities.
He advised motorists to drive within the stipulated speed limits, use seat belt and carry out necessary checks and measures before setting out on any journey.
The Corps Marshal, FRSC, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, said the approval for the vehicles’ purchase symbolised “the sustained intent of the Federal Government to raise the bar on road safety management,” adding that the gesture would lead to increased patrol activities and response time of the corps during disasters.
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