21st January, 2023
Report by Patriot Ata Ikiddeh
For the first time in the history of Nigeria, our nation is manufacturing and exporting finished products, we are no longer primary producers but respected exporters. A Nigerian company is exporting Urea fertilizer to America, Brazil and India. Another is exporting made-in-Nigeria vehicles to Ghana, Sierra Leone & Mali. What a tremendous success!
But first, we need to puncture a particular false narrative and lay the record straight. There is a story making the rounds that President Buhari has frustrated indigenous manufacturers. In fact, there is a diabolical twist to this story, it says – the President has promoted an ethnic agenda in manufacturing by deliberately frustrating manufacturers from particular ethnic groups, while his government has funded and promoted Northern manufacturers with billions of naira. What a lie! And it’s even more tragic when respected individuals and groups go up to the press with these accusations without facts to back up their false claims.
Not too long ago a powerful South East socio-cultural group singled out Innoson motors and accused the government, it said, “The government denying the indigenous company (Innoson motors) the desired patronage is morally reprehensible…this obnoxious self-inflicted injury has already thrown Nigeria into the poverty capital of the world and fragile states index status”.
But this view and position was not only false but has been spewed from the cauldron of ignorance. If anything Nigerians ought to applaud Mr President for investing and patronizing Innosson motors with billions of naira.
Today we are giving you these facts in pictures. Take note – no Nigerian President since 1999 has patronized Innoson motors like President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.
The following were President Buhari’s exact words to manufacturers such as Innoson motors when he took office in 2015, he said – “This Administration is convinced that the key to our quest for economic diversification and therefore survival lies in Agriculture and the Manufacturing sector. A strong manufacturing sector will create more jobs and wealth for our people. It will usher in sustainable economic prosperity because we will produce what we consume as a nation and generate foreign exchange by exporting any surplus. The Manufacturing sector is well-positioned to be a major driver of Nigeria’s economic growth because of our immense natural resources and the entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians. The government is therefore focused on implementing necessary policies and strategies aimed at unleashing the full potential of manufacturing in Nigeria. We will rely heavily on your ideas and inputs at all stages of formulation and implementation of new industrial policies”.
As a result of the huge patronage by the Federal Government Innoson motors in its efforts to cater to the demands of its customers in Nigeria and Africa, opened a new automated bus manufacturing plant in Nnewi, Anambra State. Innoson motors is today receiving orders from Ghana, Serriea Leone & Mali.
The Buhari government made the Nigerian Army sign a partnership agreement with Innoson Motors Manufacturing Company (IVM) for the manufacturing of locally-made military vehicles for the army.
The contract also includes identifying requirements for the production of the armoured fighting vehicle in Nigerian Army Central Workshop in Kaduna and enhancing the capacity of Nigerian Army personnel to actively participate on the successful implementation of these joint ventures. Since then, the Nigerian Army started taking delivery of these armoured fighting military vehicles manufactured by Innoson Motors.
The vehicles were custom-made to have suitable configurations for the army’s deployment for Operations in the North East. Among the vehicles, includes an array of gun trucks, IVM Carrier Pickup Truck, IVM Granite Pickup. Others include IVM G80 (Bigger jeeps), IVM g40 (Smaller jeep), G-30 Humvee, Innoson War Trucks equipped with an anti-aircraft gun, etc. Currently, Innoson-manufactured gun trucks are the largest in the Nigerian army fleet –ahead of Hilux and Land-cruiser LC70 (aka Buffalo), etc.
Innoson is the biggest automaker in Sub-Saharan Africa. It was founded by Innocent Chukwuma Nwala. It runs a plant in Nnewi, Anambra. It’s interesting to note 70% of Innoson car parts are produced locally, while the rest is sourced from Japan, China, and Germany.
The following vehicles have been purchased by President Buhari’s government from Innoson Motors
(1) Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps vehicles Made In Nigeria cars from Innoson.
(2) Nigerian Police use Made-In Nigeria vehicles.
(3) Military Trucks & SUV’s
(4) Naval Hilux vehicles
Patriot Ata Ikiddeh
Consultant & Coordinator
President Buhari Legacy Projects
The Presidency
