The Director, Policy and
Planning, National Automotive Council  (NAC), Lukman Mahmud has said that 30 vehicle manufacturing plants would soon begin operations in the country.
Mahmud made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to him, the federal government is working out the modalities towards facilitating the production of vehicle components at competitive cost through the Nigerian Automotive industry.
He said the initiative would create employment opportunities as the motor assembling companies would come in with complete and semi-knock-down vehicles.
Mahmud disclosed that prior to the pronouncement of the National Automotive Industry Development plan in 2013, Nigeria had 14 existing plants across the nation, stressing that, “The protection and incentives provided to the industry under the new policy persuaded 16 companies to establish assembly plants.”
The Director said Peugeot Automobile Nigeria, Leyland, Fiat, Volkswagen and Mercedes were the complete-knock-down assembling plants that were forced to shut down due to the influx of imported cars or second hand cars, called ‘Tokunbo cars’ pointing out that the idea of semi-knock-down and complete knock-down import was to address the demand from the automobile market due to eventual hike on tariff and levy on imported fairly used cars.
He noted that the policy made provision for high patronage from government and credit purchase scheme, because under the credit purchase scheme, middle class Nigerians could afford cars and pay back within some months and at single digit interest.
According to him, the federal government is working out modalities with the stakeholders in the automobile sector to curtail smuggling of ‘Tokunbo’ cars into the country.
“Plans are in top gear to revive the auto glass company in Ibadan, Oyo State, Car seat company at Kaduna, Nocaco Auto Wires, exhaust pipes and many more parts and consumable producers in the country,” he said,
He said that the council had established material testing laboratory in Zaria, Kaduna State, Components testing laboratory in Enugu and emission testing laboratory in Lagos.
Mahmud posited that the policy is under legislation at the National Assembly to avoid policy clash and protect investors in the sector.