The Group Chairman of Stallion Group, Mr. Sunil Vaswani, has described the federal government’s auto policy as a historic step towards Nigeria’s industrial and economic rejuvenation. Mr. Vaswani who led a delegation of Nissan to the President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja to present the first five ‘made in Nigeria vehicles’ to the President.
He thanked the president and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment for coming up with the automotive policy. Presenting the cars to the President, Vaswani said the vehicles were designed in line with global standards for product and technology.
“The Stallion’s automobile facility located along Lagos – Badagry Highway in Lagos can produce 45,000 vehicles annually,” he said. “We are on track to expand our investments and further stimulate the growth of a complete auto industry eco system as envisaged in the new policy,” he added.
An elated President Goodluck Jonathan on his part applauded the initiative of Stallion Nissan Motors Nigeria (Stallion NMN) as he took delivery of the vehicles which include three Nissan Patrol SUVs, Nissan Almera (Sunny) saloon car and Nissan NP 300 pick-up.
President Jonathan said the first made in Nigeria vehicles are a demonstration of the proficiency of local investors’ aptitude to the potency of a genuine policy to revamp the automotive industry and leverage the status of the economy while enhancing job creation.
“I am quite happy that Nissan has demonstrated the reality of exporting cars from Nigeria is possible which suggest we can soon as a nation export vehicles to other parts of the world,” the President said.
He urged private sector investors to produce more products so the federal government can begin to delineate certain percentage of goods that can be produced locally.
“We thank Nissan for making the best of the new automotive policy which is part of our agenda to strengthen the private sector and make it a hub for job creation. Government alone can’t create jobs,” President Jonathan said.
