Imo State Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma has explained his reasons in preferring Innoson motor vehicles to assorted foreign brands in his Government of Imo State. The reasons included the need to get durable, purpose-built vehicles at comparatively affordable prices and the desire to promote the local auto industry and boost the economy of Nigeria.
The Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Governor, Nwachukwu Oguwike disclosed this while commenting on the State Government’s sustained patronage of vehicles produced in Nigeria, particularly the sundry models from Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited {IVM}, Nnewi.
The Media Adviser explained that the repeat patronage of the brand is an indication that the vehicles usually serve the purposes for which they are procured, and do so satisfactorily.
The Governor had on Wednesday, May 5, at a ceremony in Owerri, presented a fleet of 100 patrol vehicles produced by the Nnewi plant to the State’s anti-crime/banditry outfit, ”Operation Search and Flush’, with a warning “to bandits, hoodlums and trigger-happy criminals that their time is up in Imo State.”
They included some units of the well equipped, and highly acclaimed IVM G12 special purpose vehicle already popular with the Nigerian Military; as well as the IVM {troops} Carrier usually at its best during off-road duties, and used by many security outfits and can be spotted in the convoys of some government officials at various levels.
The new batch of automobiles came about one year after the State Government had procured 100 similar sufficiently equipped Innoson-badged operational vehicles for the inauguration of the security outfit {in March, 2020.
Speaking to the press after the presentation of the latest procurement, Oguwike disclosed that apart from IVM G12 and IVM Carrier purchased to fight insecurity, government officials in the State have been using passenger vehicles wearing the Innoson nameplate.
The Chief Press Secretary further remarked that Gov. Hope Uzodinma believed in patronising products with local content and supporting local manufacturers.
”The patronage of Innoson vehicles is also in line with the Federal Government’s policy of buying products manufactured in Nigeria.
Moreover, we are buying Innoson because we are getting satisfaction from the vehicles. And if we are getting satisfaction, why go for imported vehicles?”
The Chief Press Secretary said the vehicles in the convoy of the governor travel from Owerri to different parts of the country, and back, without hitches.
An affirmation statement from Innoson on the IVM Carrier pick-up supplied to the Imo State Government, says: “We designed the vehicle specifically for the African road. It comes with an innovative chassis, front double cross beam independent suspension and rear leaf spring dependent suspension, and socket shock absorber, which reduces bumping on the road effectively and enhances smoothness of vehicle.”
Thus, Innoson auto industry has begun to take note of, and applaud the Uzodinma example, the like of which was last seen when Peter Obi as the Governor of Anambra State purchased hundreds of Innoson SUVs for traditional rulers, and mini buses for all the secondary schools in the state.
Operators in the sector say it is in line with the goals of the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) or Auto Policy.
First to react was the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Abuja, Jelani Aliyu, who said he is very proud of Innoson, and is not surprised that the Imo State Government has found the company’s vehicles very reliable and worthy of consistent patronage.
“Gov. Uzodinma has done what others find difficult to do, and that is: Patronise and encourage local players in the auto industry, like Innososn. That is how it is done in every serious country. State agents have to be using locally made vehicles. That his is how to create jobs.”
Also commending the Imo state government, Dr. D.V.C. Obi, a strong advocate for a viable automotive who until recently headed the Auto Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria {MAN}, argued that if channeled inward, government purchases could lift the industry from its present bad situation.
Publisher: Don Martyn L.O Nwosu
Ikeduru APC Media Hub
08032950897
Ikeduruapcmediahub@gmail.com
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