NAMA Condemns LCCI Call for Review of National Auto Policy
TheNigerianAutomotiveManufacturers Association (NAMA), has condemned a statement credited to Director General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) that the National Auto Policy was responsible for an increase in the prices of vehicles. “The attention of the Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association has been drawn to an interview granted by the Director General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr Muda Yusuf ascribing the increase in prices of vehicle to the National Auto Policy,” said a statement by NAMA, signed by its ED, Remi Olaofe. “We were taken aback that a macro issue of the magnitude of prices of imported vehicles could be so narrowed to a single parameter like the National Auto Policy by a respected LCCI. The statement said in coming up with the National Auto Policy, a number of issues were put into consideration with the pivot being to redirect the Nigerian economy from an “over import dependent economy to a producing economy.” One of the greatest challenges facing the Nigerian economy has always been narrowed down to its overdependence on foreign goods with its attendance pressure on its Foreign Reserve and Exchange Rate. The Auto Policy was therefore evolved to reawaken the moribund Auto Assembly Plants that were hitherto operating at high capacity in core geographical zones of the country and also encourage major vehicle importers to attract their Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to commence assembly of the vehicles in Nigeria.