Emmanuel Thomas, Lagos
October 27, 2015 – The Automobile, Boatyards, Transport, Equipment and Allied Senior Staff Association (AUTOBATE) has expressed strong aversion to attempt by the Federal Government to review the 2013 Automotive Policy which placed high tariffs on imported cars to pave way for local assembly of vehicles.
In a statement, General Secretary of the association, Mr. Sola Olorunfemi noted that since the National Automobile Policy came into being, members of the association have been progressing adding that 14 out of the 25 registered automakers have started assembling vehicles in the country.
The group described attempt to review the policy as worrisome, adding that the present policy will increase indigenous industrialization drive which has been the dream of Nigerians.
“We are aware that there are hitches as there has been scarcity of the “needed infrastructure for the sustenance of the local assembly plants,” yet it’s not enough to reverse the auto policy”, they said.
According to the group, uninhibited importation of vehicles over the decades has come at a huge cost to Nigerians.
“For us, the FG is just dancing to the tune of some powerful stakeholders who would put their profit first before the progress of our society generally.
“We should not forget that these set of unpatriotic Nigerians have frustrated the bill now for ten years through their high level lobby, it only takes the endurance of some courageous Nigerians and the sagacity of National Automotive Council for the policy to come to fruition”, they said.
They suggested that the best action to take is for the government to take the bull by the horn and implement the auto policy to the fullest.
“In fact, such courage will help the FG to resolve the other infrastructural and power challenges. AUTOBATE believes that the lowering of the import tariff will rubbish the essence of the policy altogether as most companies would prefer to import cheaply instead of assembling here.
They called on all stakeholders to reject attempt to reverse the policy.
