FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BAN IMPORTATION OF CARS?

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BAN IMPORTATION OF CARS?

 THE Federal Government has revealed plans to ban importation of vehicles into the country, to encourage local production, even as revival efforts for the nation's moribund assembly plants were yet to be visible.

Besides, the government has stepped up moves to reposition the nation's transportation system, in line with its transformation agenda.

Already, the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has concluded arrangements to kick-off passenger service on the Eastern railway route before the end of December.

President Goodluck Jonathan stated these while declaring open the 2013 yearly national management conference of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) in Uyo, Monday.

The President did not however state the time frame for the vehicle import ban programme.

He stressed that the efforts being made, especially in local vehicle production at Nnewi, Anambra State need to be encouraged.

Recently, the government directed its various organs to purchase vehicles made at the Nnewi plant, a gesture that was lauded by the Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga had earlier hinted of government's plan to create three automobile training centres and clusters at Lagos, Nnewi and Kano.

The training centres, according to Aganga, would be established in partnership with Brazil to train Nigerians in automobile maintenance and spare parts production, while the clusters would host new vehicle assembly plants.

The President said that the reform in the rail, airport and the maritime sectors were aimed at gaining the confidence of investors and to empower Nigerians.

The government's policy of economic inclusion, according to him, was designed to empower the less privileged and the unemployed through opportunities in agriculture and skills acquisitions.

"We can emphatically say that as a result of our economic policy, there have been significant improvement in our economic transformation drive," Jonathan said.

Source: Odili