Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has called for legislative backing for local manufacturing incentives, infrastructure funding, and skill development that align with the commitment of the Executive arm of government to policy consistency, enhancing the ease of doing business, and protection of local industries.
Governor Oborevwori made the call on Monday in Asaba while declaring open a four-day retreat for members and staff of the House of Representatives Committee on Industry, with the theme: “Building a Globally Competitive Automotive Sector in Nigeria through Effective Executive -Legislative Partnership”.
The Governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon Prince Johnson Erijo; said Nigeria could and must build a sustainable and globally competitive automotive industry that would empower the youths, conserve foreign exchange, and promote national pride.
Oborevwori added that the sub-national governments must complement the efforts of the Federal Government in the noble quest by making the local environments attractive to investors through land reforms, simplified approvals, and social cohesion.
He stated that under the MORE Agenda of his administration, the enabling environment was being created for industries to thrive, through massive infrastructure renewal, public-private partnerships, a decentralized power distribution system, and enhanced peace and security.
The Governor said with an educated, vibrant, and highly motivated youth population, Delta State was well-positioned to support industries that create jobs and foster technology transfer.
“Furthermore, Delta State is not only richly endowed in oil and gas reserves, but also blessed with vast deposits of kaolin, silica, industrial clay, and other solid minerals that can serve as vital inputs for manufacturing and industrial activities, including the automotive sector.
“The state’s coastal location and the presence of four seaports offer immense logistical advantages for component fabrication and export-oriented production. Beyond natural resources, the state’s strategic geographic location that connects the South-South, South-East, and South-West regions makes it a natural gateway for commerce, logistics, and industry in Nigeria”, Oborevwori noted.
The Governor remarked that globally the automotive industry remained a major employer of labour, and a key driver of economic growth and sustainable development, adding that the sector also had a powerful multiplier effect in the economy; as it powered innovation in research and development, while stimulating growth in other sectors of the economy such as petroleum refining, steel making, glass manufacturing, finance, ICT, advertising, and mobility services.
He commended the House of Representatives Committee on Industry and the National Automobile Design and Development Council for their foresight and wisdom in convening the retreat, which he said was timely now that the country was desperately seeking to diversify its economy, revive local manufacturing capacity, and stimulate industrial growth through effective collaboration between policymakers and regulators.
In his remarks, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Industry, Hon. Enitan Dolapo Badru, said effective Executive -Legislative partnership had become expedient to be able to build a globally competitive automotive sector in Nigeria.
Hon. Badru noted that the automotive sector was currently faced with lots of missing links, especially the issue of financing, pointing out that the high interest rate of credit facilities was adversely affecting local manufacturers of vehicles and persons hoping to purchase either brand new or Belgium cars.
He said the Committee would want a situation where loans could be obtained at single digit interest rate for investment in the automotive sector, urging the Central Bank of Nigeria, other banks and financial institutions to think along that line in order to make the nation’s automotive sector globally competitive.
In his goodwill message, the Director General, National Automotive Design and Development Council, Mr. Oluwemimo Osanipin, called on the National Assembly to legislate on policies that would encourage investment in the automotive sector.
While describing the sector as key to economic growth, the DG said the critical stakeholders needed to understand and play their roles in building a virile and competitive automotive sector.
In an interview, the Director General, Africa Parliamentary Resource Centre, Dr. John Mutu, and the Clerk of the Committee, Dr. Usman Ibrahim Esq; said the retreat was meant to afford participants the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the workings of the NADDC and collectively design measures that will help achieve the Agenda’s mandate.
They added that the participants would also discuss the role of the House Committee in delivering the mandate of NADDC and develop a roadmap that will guide the Committee’s activities in the next two years.