Lagos — UTC Nigeria Plc, one of the ailing conglomerates in the country, may soon be pulled out of bad turn as Rolls Royce and Bentley Motor Cars are set to infuse fresh funds into it. The motor cars producing giants whose team visited recently expressed strong disposition to making investment in Nigeria through the 69 year-old UTC Nigeria Plc.

Leader of team, Mr. Peter Grittings, who the Regional Director for Rolls Royce and Bentley Motor Cars in Africa, India, and Middle-East markets, said during the visit that with ultra modern facilities at the UTC motor workshop in Nigeria, his team was convinced that the company was ready for Motor business in the Nigeria market.

Rolls Royce is interested in the areas of vehicle and spare-part supplies, training and other technical support that would enhance quality services to UTC customers, according to Grittings.

He said: "I am convinced that what is in UTC workshop is of world class standard. From what is on ground and with the huge turn-out of Rolls Royce owners in Nigeria in today's meeting, Nigerians are ready to do business with us. We have therefore agreed to work with UTC Nigeria Plc by supplying the company with parts and new vehicles, technical support, personnel exchange and training of the manpower to be able to sustain the values inherent in Roll Royce global service culture in Nigeria."

Grittings assured owners of Rolls Royce cars in Nigeria: "UTC would get you spare parts and new vehicles, faster and quicker than you would get from the factory. We assure you of 48-hour delivery of spare parts to UTC Nigeria for your cars."

He extended invitation to members of the Rolls Royce and Bentley Club who would be visiting London to visit the company's factory doing their trip to see "where their cars are made.

UTC Nigeria Plc and Rolls Royce and Bentley Motor cars have been maintaining business relationship for the past 10 years. But the consistent military rule in Nigeria had caused a full in the relationship. Both parties agreed to return to full-scale activities during the visit.

Managing Director and Chief Executive of UTC Nigeria Plc, Mr. Henry Okolo, who has brought new lease of life to the UTC since taking over as chief helmsman, remarked at the occasion that the company's resolve to re-engineer its business would manifest in the values it gives to customers.

He said that "our commitment in vehicle business dates back to about 5 decades ago when we got the franchise for the Opel car, and subsequently, Peugeot and Rolls Royce and Bentley motors followed in 1970 and 1990 respectively."

According to him, UTC's operations in vehicle would be focused primarily on niche marketing. "We want to specialised in niche marketing and serve the market very creditably. And this, we have started through fleet management for oil and gas sectors of the economy. We are also working hard to provide satisfaction and add value to our Rolls Royce customers through this renewed partnership."

Mr. Okolo described Rolls Royce and Bentley Motor brands as "assets," and noted that Rolls Royce users are "investors" whose assets "UTC would work hard to protect through its world class engineering facility." According to him, "UTC has invested considerably to support the Nigerian Rolls Royce investors. Don't freight your Rolls Royce cars; the services are available here," he appealed.