An Automobile Expert and Investor, Dr. Adesina Adebiyi has advised the Federal Government to invest in assembly plants for electric cars towards reducing air pollution and dependence on fuel.
He made the call in Lagos while receiving the Living Hero Automobile Award from a Non Governmental Organization, Life Value Awareness and Leadership Secure Initiative.
Dr. Adebiyi who is the Chairman/CEO of Unique Americars said the patronage of electric cars would also go a long way in enhancing the growth of the country’s automobile sector.
He equally stressed the need to encourage the manufacturing of made in Nigeria vehicles towards boosting the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, and reduce the importation of cars into Nigeria.
“The present situation is green energy because everyone knows that, that is where the future of Automobile is going now because by 2030, Europe will be fully electric, so, we have no option in Nigeria and Africa at large to embrace it for electric cars has come to stay and we just have to develop our own technology towards the manufacturing of electric cars and make it available in every part of the country ” Dr. Adebiyi explained.
While highlighting the exchange rate, customs duty, lack of forex and inflation as some of the challenges confronting Nigerian investors in the automobile sector, Dr. Adebiyi called for intervention through the National Automobile Design and Development Council, NADDC, towards assisting car dealers in the country.
“Aside this, the Federal Government through the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, should consider selling dollars to us directly instead of always going to the black market and the Government should equally create more conducive environment towards assisting investors in the sector” he emphasized.
According to him, the task of developing Nigeria’s automobile industry required effective public private sector collaboration and funding for national economic development.
“Lastly, I want to advice the Federal Government to make fund available through either the Bank of Industry, BOI or NEXIM Bank below ten percent interest for us to key in and expand our business because we need to have made in Nigeria cars for us to export to other neighbouring countries because we have the manpower and expertise towards reducing billions of dollars we spent annually in importing cars into Nigeria thereby strengthening our naira for rapid economic development ” he added.
Earlier, the President of Life Value Awareness and Leadership Secure Initiative, Comrade Oladipo Aberuagba said the award was in recognition of Dr Adebiyi’s contributions to the nation’s automobile sector over the years.
Mathew Ayoola, Edited By Grace Namiji
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