FG dismisses importers’ request to defer auto policy

Nigeria’s car importers have petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan for a deferment of the new automotive policy by two years.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently approved new measures aimed at transforming the automotive sector and ultimately put Nigeria among the league of auto-producing countries and become a regional auto giant. Through the policy, the federal government aims to reduce the country’s N1.05 trillion vehicle importation bill.
The petitioners were seemingly upset with Stallion Group’s recent partnership with Nissan to produce cars in the country.

The petitioners also contended that the conglomerate, Stallion Group, has unfair access to the policy details ahead of the announcement. Stallion is a multinational conglomerate with an impressive portfolio of world-class auto brands from Japan, Europe and Asia.
But reacting to the development, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, however dismissed it as “accusations hurled by the importers who want status quo to remain.”
Aganga also dismissed allegations by the petitioners that the stakeholders were not carried along in the whole process, stating that all the dealers accompanied his delegation to South Africa for a retreat on the policy.
The minister further disclosed that one of the petitioners, Chief Ojo of Elizade, was indeed in his office to intimate him on plans by Toyota to assemble a plant in Nigeria, right after the announcement.



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