April 21, (THEWILL) – The Manufacturers Association of Nigerian (MAN), on Thursday, commissioned different categories of vehicles including intra-city long buses, cars, and heavy-duty trucks amongst others at the Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) Company Limited in Nnewi, Anambra State.
This is just as the Association called on Nigerians to ensure that they patronise not only Nigerian-made vehicles but other products produced in Nigeria so as to boost the economy.
The vehicles, which were manufactured at the IVM plant in Nnewi and powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), were test-driven by a team of MAN national and state delegates and other stakeholders, who came to grace the occasion of the commissioning of the vehicles.
Speaking at the commissioning, President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Otunba Francis Meshioye, commended Innoson for the efforts put in so far to see that the vehicles were manufactured right in the Nnewi plant.
Meshioye, who said that he was satisfied with what he saw during inspection, urged Nigerians to give patronage and support to IVM.
The MAN President applauded Innoson for introducing CNG and LNG into vehicle production, a situation he confirmed will reduce the cost of transportation of goods and passengers.
Emphasising on cost reduction that gas vehicles will bring, Otunba Meshioye said, “For any trailer that wants to come from Lagos down to this side with the usual diesel or petrol, it will take about N800,000 for the whole journey but with CNG, it would be reduced to about N300,000. Whichever way, you will be saving about N500,000 minimally by using gas. We do not need to go overseas to import the gas. We can produce them locally. It will also create employment because money saved can now go to another investment.
“If we Patronise locally manufactured vehicles, it will create more jobs and if we want to aggregate the benefits to industrial growth, there will be jobs, proper usage of funds and there will be empowerment and saving of forex. Put together, you will find out that the contribution to GDP will be higher. If you cascade it down to support value chain, it will create other small value chains that will support the industry. This is very interesting and encouraging.
“If you want to encourage local business, government should patronise it and stop importation. It is worth patronising so that our economy can be better. Innoson has all it takes to do the job.”
Also speaking, Chairman, Innoson Group of Companies, Chief Dr. Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma, said they are now doing CNG and LNG-run vehicles and that they are also targeting electric vehicles so that the price of running vehicles will be cheaper.
On the quality, Chukwuma said, “It is durable and better than others. We have many customers in Benin. 80 percent of vehicles in Benin are gas vehicles. Now that we have commissioned it, we will move to the next level.”
While calling on Nigerians to patronise Nigerian-made products, he said, “My factory has 7,500 workers. I went into CNG and LNG-powered vehicles because the fuel price is increasing, the only solution is gas. It is 60 per cent cheaper. That is why I made the choice for people to use. 80 percent of people in Benin are using gas. We do electric vehicles and the battery will be produced in Nigeria.”
Also commending Innoson’s innovation in the manufacture of gas vehicles, MAN, South East Chairman, Lady Ada Chukwudozie, said Innoson is the pride of manufacturing in Nigeria.
Calling on Nigerians to support and patronise Innoson, she emphasised that what Innoson is doing is manufacturing and not just mere vehicle assembly.
“Now, we know that we have gas reservoir in Anambra. It is a legacy project. With this development, the gas that is in abundance in Anambra can be applied to vehicles. He is the pride of manufacturers and has done very well. We have gone round and seen for ourselves,” she said.
Some of the vehicles commissioned include Intra-city buses (IVM 6125), IVM Smart 1.5itre engine cars, heavy-duty trucks etc.
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
