The Director-General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Jelani Aliyu says with the right support Nigeria’s Automotive Industry is capable of producing four hundred thousand vehicles annually.
He disclosed this during a working visit to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami at the Digital Economy Complex in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The Minister’s Spokesperson, Mrs Uwa Suleiman, in a statement said, Aliyu in his presentation to the Minister called for support and partnership with the digital economy sector to develop and sustain the automotive industry in Nigeria.
He commended the Nigerian government’s efforts in restoring the industry to its lost glory and boosting indigenous production through the institution of the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP).
Aliyu said; “The NAIDP has five elements which include; Investment promotion, infrastructural development, improvement of standards, skills development and market development. We believe that building a partnership with the digital economy sector based on these initiatives will engender the needed support for the industry to thrive. The vehicles manufactured and assembled in Nigeria are very tech-driven and it is only natural to seek your support as the driver of the digital economy in the country.”
He affirmed that the resuscitation of the Nigerian automotive industry would create jobs, encourage innovation and build indigenous capacity among others.
Professor Pantami who applauded the Director General’s leadership also pledged his sector’s willingness to partner with the industry.
He restated the need for skills over paper qualifications citing Jelani Aliyu as an excellent example of the value of proven skills.
“We are more than willing to collaborate with the industry and it is exciting to note that your presentation is in alignment with at least four of the pillars of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), particularly in the area of software development and digital design. The sector has an important role to play in supporting your parastatal so that we will jointly create many more jobs for our citizens and support our economy,” Pantami explained.
The Minister noted that one of the major challenges facing the nation is importation and this could not be sustained.
“We must therefore heed Mr President’s call to produce what we consume and consume what we produce. We also need to create awareness among the populace to take pride in our indigenous products and patronise them.”
The highlight of the visit was the presentation of various models of locally manufactured, tech-driven, battery and gas-powered vehicles to the Minister.
PIAK
