As the countdown gears up in earnest for the maiden edition of the Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU) scheduled to be held at Radisson Lagos, GRA Ikeja, on June 27, 2024, major stakeholders in the automotive sector have expressed support for the event with full commitment.
The event, being organized by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) in partnership with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), has already received major boosts from Weststar & Associates, the general authorized distributor of Mercedes-Benz in the country, and Carloha Nigeria, the exclusive distributor of Chery in Nigeria.
Other leading stakeholders that have keyed into the event with full commitment include Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL), Lanre Shittu Motors, Globe Motors and CFAO Nigeria, while others are expected to join the effort to move the cause forward soon.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs & Excise (NCE), Mr. Adewale Adeniyi and officials from the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) are expected to address the myriad of challenges facing auto importers at the summit in order to boost the confidence of stakeholders in the clearing process.
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 in order 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 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, the 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.”
