The Uyo International Motor Show scheduled to commence today in Uyo, has been postponed to September 2, the organisers recently.
The show’s General Manager, Mrs Joyce Koffie, announced the postponement in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos yesterday.
Our correspondent reports that no fewer than 400 vehicles from 45 brands from America, Europe, and Asia, and 500,000 visitors are expected to grace the maiden edition of the eight-day event.
“There is a change in the date for the Uyo International Motor Show/Car of The Year West Africa Awards, billed for the prestigious Le Meridien Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort, Uyo.
“The new date is now Sept. 2-9, 2016 and this is official as both Southfield Technologies and the Starwood Group’s Le Meridien have agreed on the shift.
“Every other detail regarding the event and participation remains unchanged, except the reduction in the duration of the event which organisers explained will reflect on its calendar of events, the statement said.
“This is to allow the event to keep strictly to its advertised international auto show standards as it is meant only for automobile firms dealing in equipment designed for climatic aspects of Sub-Saharan Africa.
“As organisers, we are certainly very sensitive to what our exhibitors expressed as their concern regarding the state of the nation’s economy.
“This, with the very short notice, may not allow them to have a good showing at the show.’’
It expressed the organisers’ resolve to provide ample opportunities for automobile manufacturers and concessionaires, franchised or authorised dealers to present 2016 models of brands on their marquees.
“The show will also provide the zone the golden opportunity to improve on its security responsibility not only to exhibitors but to the visitors and the people of Akwa Ibom,’’ the statement said.
It regretted any inconvenience the shift in date might have caused prospective visitors.
“It is our responsibility to match our words with action and ensure we keep to the event’s expected standard.’’
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, Southfield Technologies, a co-organiser of the event, Mr Charles Essien, had said that only products and services that had manufacturers’ considerations for the sub-region shall be on display.
“It will integrate the West African sub-region into the global automobile calendar notwithstanding how small the market share is, every market share is important for the manufacturer.
“Also, we want to ensure that automobile companies do not breach that trust that customers repose in them.
“So, the event will highlight the safety and security aspects of the automobile industry and as such, all the brands will display prototypes of all the vehicles for visitors to make inputs using the suggestion boxes,’’ he said.
Essien expressed the confidence that the show would positively impact the transport and allied industry as well as the Nigerian economy.