Mobil, Michelin, Insurance Coys, Others Head to Lagos Motor Fair

In what has become an auto festival and show of strength among indigenous and foreign firms in the automotive business, more firms are confirming their participation in the forthcoming 11th Lagos Motor Fair and 5th Autoparts Expo Nigeria. Over 70 indigenous and foreign firms have confirmed their participation at the show scheduled for at the Federal Palace Hotel Victoria Island from April 28-May 4, 2016.

Chairman, Organising Committee of the event, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Agwu said FBN Insurance, Michelin Tyres, Cornerstone Insurance, Old Mutual were among the additional firms from Nigeria that would take the best in their stables to the event. He assured visitors that all their automotive needs would be met at this one stop show to be attended by reputable globally acclaimed manufacturers and dealers.

According to the Chairman, “Virtually all the major brands of automobiles, spare parts, accessories, lubricants, banking, insurance, regulatory and policy making agencies and bodies are taking part.” He further noted that the growing number of exhibitors confirmed for this event can be attributed to the importance attached to it by the participants.

“We cannot but attribute the increasing number of participants for the show to the strategic importance attached to it by all the stakeholders in the industry who have been hardworking and consistent with us. It has been a collective effort and all hands have continually been on deck, starting from the private sector to the various agencies of government both at the state and federal level.”

According Agwu, responses from Nigerian and overseas firms so far are encouraging despite the challenges in the global and the nation’s economy and business environment.

The Chairman noted that the beauty of trade shows was that they took organisations beyond their supposed dreams and into the expected ground of realities. This they do by taking participants to higher levels by consistently keeping them [the exhibitors] in the minds of their target audience.

“Autoparts Expo segment of the event is doing well. Close to 23 African Countries and Cities are involved in this edition which aims at using the window of the event to reach the autoparts markets in these countries and cities”, he concluded.

Letters of invite were extended to organized sectors in the automotive business in those countries through their Chambers of Commerce as well as the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Nigeria foreign missions in those countries and the foreign missions of the countries in Nigeria. We are aiming at using the Nigerian Autoparts markets as the hub of the sectors business in Africa. The intention is to make them (players from the other countries) to be buying from the Nigerian markets.” The two major autoparts markets in Nigeria ASPAMDA and Ladipo are supporting the event.

“In conjunction with our foreign partners: SENEXPO International Fairs Inc of Turkey, we have reached out to many of Original Equipment Manufacturers of Autoparts and happily they are responding positively. Our aim at bringing them is to enable Nigerians and neighbouring West Africans engaged in auto spare business work out rewarding and lasting business relationships with the main companies engaged in the manufacture of auto spare parts.”