The recent announcement by the Federal Government to launch the first batch of approximately 5,600 “palliative” compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicles ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s first administration anniversary has sparked debate within the Nigerian automotive industry.
Stakeholders are questioning the decision to opt for semi-knock-down (SKD) assembly, which is effectively importing vehicles fully built and assembling them locally as opposed to patronising local manufacturers.
This move, according to industry insiders, contradicts the principles of the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP-2023).
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement, announced the procurement of the vehicles and 20,000 CNG conversion kits, valued at about N100 billion, as part of efforts to mitigate the impact of fuel price increases following the removal of petrol subsidies last year.