SAN FRANCISCO, February 16, (THEWILL) – The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has observed that government has the responsibility to ensure that indigenous manufacturers thrive to rebuild the economy and provide employment opportunities for Nigerians.
Saraki, who spoke on Monday while receiving a delegation from Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company, Nnewi, led by its Chairman, Innocent Chukwuma, advised that government should use legislative actions and policy initiatives to protect the local industries as a deliberate way of reviving the economy.
He posited that one of the actions government should quickly introduce was to ensure that local industries were patronized by government agencies so that Nigerian manufacturers could enjoy the advantages accruing from the big market that her population offers.
Saraki explained that this is why the legislative chamber he presides over “is determined to amend the Procurement Law to ensure that government agencies patronize Made in Nigeria products.
“I am sure the House of Representatives is in support of this. It is our joint responsibility to ensure that you succeed. If you are successful, a lot more small and medium scale enterprises will draw inspiration from you and they will become successful.
“That will help to create jobs which is one of the mandate presented to us by the youths of this country during the last elections. We in the legislature will look at all laws and help to create an enabling environment for local businesses to thrive in Nigeria,” he stated.
The Senate President noted that using laws to protect locally made goods was not peculiar to the country , stressing that similar policy had been followed in the United States under President Herbert Hoover in 1933, while India and China had also enacted similar laws in the past.
He bemoaned a situation where a company like Innoson sold only about 3,000 vehicles in 2015 when Nigerians buy about a million vehicle annually, adding that If Nigerians patronised Made in Nigeria cars, it would force foreign manufacturers to set up assembly plants in the country.
In his remarks, one of the Innoson officials, Alfred Nwosu, recalled that the company started off from manufacturing of motor cycles and graduated to tricycle before it began production of different range of utility and luxury vehicles.
He disclosed that the company had 7,000 Nigerians on its payroll while the company is currently training about 300 Niger Delta youths who used to be trained abroad.
Nwosu commended the Senate leadership for their prompt response to the request for audience sent by the company, an opportunity that had eluded the company in the past, revealing that “In less than 48 hours of contacting the Senate President, we were told to come over. We are encouraged by your views on Made in Nigeria goods. What we need is the support, encouragement and inspiration from decision makers like you”.
