The Senate Committee on Industry has urged South-East governors to patronise locally made vehicles from Innoson Motors, highlighting the importance of supporting indigenous manufacturing to boost Nigeria’s economy.
Senator Francis Fadahunsi, committee chairman, made the call during a visit to the Innoson Group of Companies in Nnewi, Anambra.
Senator Fadahunsi stressed that the company has made significant investments in producing goods for both the masses and the affluent, with operations spanning plastics, automobiles, and other products across Lagos, Enugu, and Anambra states.
“Innoson employs over 7,000 Nigerians and operates without duty exemptions on imported inputs. Supporting this company will promote local production and create wealth,” Fadahunsi said.
The Senator also appealed to the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Industry to assist Innoson in addressing financial and regulatory challenges.
Mr. Innocent Chukwuma, Chairman of Innoson Group, clarified that the company manufactures, rather than merely assembles, vehicles, producing about 60 per cent of the components locally.
He called on all levels of government to support local manufacturers through patronage and policy incentives.
Oluwemimo Osanipin, Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), assured that the council would address Innoson’s complaints about unfair duty policies that favor fully imported vehicles.
He noted that Innoson has the capacity to produce 3,000 buses and is currently building a third factory, which will be one of Africa’s largest assembly plants for electrical and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles.
The Senate committee, including Vice Chairman Senator Isa Lau, Senator Ekong Sampson, and Senator Ipalibo Banigo, emphasised that government support was crucial to growing local industry, creating jobs, and reducing dependence on imported automobiles.
