Nigeria, Volkswagen Sign Pact to Develop Automative Industry

James Emejo in Abuja

In a landmark development that will revive the automative industry, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okey Enelamah, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Volkswagen Group to develop a joint vision for an automotive hub in the country.

Volkswagen Head of the Sub-Saharan Region, Thomas Schaefer, signed the agreement on behalf of the company over the weekend, it was gathered.

The deal required the German company to undertake the implementation of a phased approach in relation to the assembly of vehicles, initially from assembly kits with the long-term view of establishing Nigeria as an automotive hub on the West Coast of Africa.

This will include establishing a training academy in conjunction with the German government, which will train the initial employees. The academy will also provide broader technical training in automotive skills. It is also intended that a comprehensive Volkswagen vehicle and service network is developed in the country subject to commercial viability.

According to a statement issued by the minister’s Strategy and Communications Adviser, Mr. Bisi Daniels, the MoU includes establishing a training academy in conjunction with the German government, which will train the initial employees.

The academy will also provide broader technical training in automotive skills while a comprehensive Volkswagen vehicle and service network is developed in the country subject to commercial viability.

The Federal Government on its part, committed to finalise the approval of the Nigerian Automotive Policy, currently under consideration, including the gradual transition from the importation of used cars to the manufacturing and distribution of new passenger vehicles.

It further committed to providing a conducive legislative environment that will encourage the manufacturing of mo