Local automobile manufacturers are livid with the Nigerian Senate for its decision to purchase imported Sport Utility Vehicles at the detriment of Nigeria-assembled SUVs.
The Senate intends to spend about N3.9bn to purchase 108 SUVs for the senators, at a unit cost of N36.5m.
Chairman, Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association, Tokunbo Aromolaran, however says the Senate could save about N1.47bn of that amount, if it buys Made-In-Nigeria SUVs.
He said this on Thursday at a press conference in Lagos, where he noted that local vehicles assemblers could provide luxury automobiles in the same category in terms of features and standard with those currently being purchased by the senators.
Aromolaran further stressed that the locally assembled SUVs will be 50 per cent cheaper than those purchased by the senators.
He further revealed that NAMA had made presentations to the Nigerian Senate with samples of different automobiles.
“We showed them the price ranges and how it will make economic sense to patronise local manufacturers in terms of job opportunities for Nigerians.”
“They would have saved between 40 and 50 per cent of the amount they are going to spend if they had bought from us.”
The Nigerian Senate has for the past few months, been championing the Made-in-Nigeria mantra/drive, however, with this new development, it appears the federal lawmakers don’t practice what they preach.
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