Customs Boss, Adeniyi to Address Local Assembler Challenges at Inaugural Auto Industry Summit

...Kia, Carloha, Coscharis, and Others Participate at the Summit 

...Globe Motors Set to Showcase Locally-Assembled Mobile Cooling Van

As anticipation builds for the first Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU) set for June 27, 2024, at Radisson Lagos, GRA Ikeja, stakeholders from the automotive sector have pledged their support for the event.

Key players like Kia Nigeria, Carloha Nigeria, Coscharis Motors, Globe Motors, Ineh-Mic Motors, Suzuki By CFAO, RT Briscoe, Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL), Weststar Associates Limited, and Honda Automobile Western Africa Limited (HAWA) have committed to the success of this landmark event. More industry participants are expected to join this initiative.

Organised by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) in collaboration with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), the summit is reaching its final preparation stages. Globe Motors will showcase its locally assembled Cooling Van, highlighting solutions to the industry's challenges.

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, alongside officials from the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), will address the various issues auto importers face, aiming to bolster stakeholder confidence in the import and clearing processes.

Envisioned as an annual flagship event of the country's automotive industry to rally all stakeholders together in addressing the challenges facing them, the auto industry summit will recommend practical solutions to the government through a communiqué at the end of the event to fully explore the great potential in the automotive sector for national development.

Expected to be declared open by the Minister of Industries, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, the summit, which has as its theme, Reviving Nigeria’s Economy through the Automotive Sector, will have the NADDC Director General, Mr. Joseph Osannipin, as the Chief Host.

The NADDC boss is expected to be supported at the summit by members of the Nigeria Association of Automotive Manufacturers (NAMA) as well as leading stakeholders across Nigeria.

Commenting on the importance of the summit for the development of the country's automotive sector, Chairman, organizing committee of NAISU, Femi Owoeye, said, "Initiating this summit is vital, especially at this moment in history, when Nigeria is struggling to map its way out of the prevailing global economic despair. Being one of the drivers of the global economy, the automobile industry, if given the necessary impetus in Nigeria, is capable of transforming the country into an automotive manufacturing hub in Africa.

"To this end, the Nigeria Auto Industry Summit shall annually produce significant information compost that would help the government to make it happen. That is why the maiden event is themed: Reviving Nigeria’s Economy through the Automotive Sector.”

On his part, Chairman of NAJA, Mike Ochonma, said, "Significantly, the summit shall bridge the information and communication gap between the nation’s auto industry stakeholders and relevant government agencies.

"Moreover, annually, the summit shall give a single and united voice for the auto industry leaders to set developmental agenda aimed at kick starting and driving relevant government policies towards a sustainable development of the automotive industry in Nigeria and ultimately position the country as a frontline beneficiary of the African Free Trade Agreement Area."