Reps canvass patronage of locally made vehicles by MDAs

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara

House of Representatives

THE House of Representatives on Thursday mandated its Committee on Industry to liaise with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to ensure that made in Nigeria vehicles are procured for use by all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs of the Federal Government as opposed to the current practice of using foreign-made vehicles by government establishments.

The House also mandated the Committee to investigate why local vehicle manufacturing companies in Nigeria had production less than twenty-five years of the establishment of such manufacturing plants.

The resolution has followed the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Ogbeide Ihiama under the matter of urgent public importance on the floor of the House on Thursday.

While leading the debate on the notion, Hon. Ihiama noted that local manufacturers of cars in Nigeria were facing a lot of challenges due to low patronage by Ministries, Departments and Agencies MDAs of the Federal Government.

The lawmaker further noted that many of the existing vehicle manufacturing companies Nigeria such as Peugoute Automobile Nigeria, PAN and Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company ANAMCO were gasping for breath due to the harsh business environment.

He stressed the need for urgent need for the MDA to procure made in Nigeria vehicles in MDAs to boost their patronage adding that it would also conserve the depletion of the nation’s foreign exchange and reflate the economy.

In his contribution, Hon. Johnson Oghuma said that the Nigerian government should concentrate efforts at making the economy generate fresh energy for its growth by patronising home made goods

The lawmaker blamed the nation’s value system for the many challenges being faced by the citizen and called for a reorientation of the citizens.

Also speaking in support, Hon. Sanni Abdu and Hon. Rima Shawulu pointed out that the move would help to resuscitate some of the dying local vehicle manufacturing plants in Nigeria.

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On his own part, Hon. Tahir Monguno noted that there was the need to create the enabling environment so that the nation’s local industries would be protected.

Consequently, the House presided by the Speaker Hon. Yakubu Dogara passed the notion with a unanimous voice vote.

The Speaker further mandated the House Committee on Industry to liaise with the relevant MDAS with a view to ensuring that local vehicle manufacturers were given priority by government agencies in the procurement of vehicles for office use.

S-Davies Wande