The recent patronage given to a local auto maker, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited, by the Anambra State Government, is another major boost for the local automotive industry in the country, writes OLAOLU OLUSINA

Amid clamour for patronage by local auto assembly plants in the country, the Anambra State Government has made a clear statement by its recent purchase of 250 security patrol vehicles from the Nnewi-based Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited. The patronage came with a promise to make a further purchase of 500 buses for schools in the state as well as an undisclosed number of vehicles for official use. The patrol vehicles, fitted with sophisticated security gadgets, were presented to 177 communities, as well as registered vigilante groups and markets, for crime-fighting in the state penultimate week.

Coming with strong after-sales support, the vehicles are said to be presently operating in various parts of the state without hitches. It is however worthy to note that the recent patronage is a follow-up to the 200 units of Innoson brand of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) purchased by the Anambra Government last month for traditional rulers in the state.This also followed the satisfactory performance of refuse compactors produced by Innoson for the state government last year.

The development,which, obviously, is an expression of confidence in the local auto industry, has attracted commendations from auto makers in the country, who described the gesture as worthy of emulation by other states and the Federal Government. Speaking in Lagos through their umbrella body, the Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA),the auto makers said the recent procurement of 250 units of Innoson brand of (pick-up) patrol vehicles by the Anambra State Government, is an indication that the state governor, Mr. Peter Obi, is truly committed to the development of the domestic auto industry.

Executive Director of NAMA, Mr Arthur Madueke, recalled that only a few weeks ago, Gov. Obi presented SUVs produced by Innoson to traditional rulers in the state, at a time other state governors were competing among themselves for the purchase of the highest number of imported vehicles.

Madueke said as the chairman of the committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that the mass transit programme of the Federal Government makes an impact on the local auto industry through the use of home-made buses, Governor Obi has not only been living up to expectation, but has also been showing examples to his colleagues in other states. Madueke said two years ago, when the Enugu State Government procured refuse compactors and mass transit buses from Innoson, NAMA called on other states, including Anambra, to take a cue from the patronage. The NAMA chief said Governor Obi has since then been leading the way on the patronage of locally made vehicles.

The auto manufacturers are also excited that the governor plans to purchase 500 buses for schools in the state and an undisclosed number of vehicles for official use.

"That is why we are commending him and urging those who are still in the habit of looking outside when there are auto plants in many parts of the country that make from cars to buses and from trucks to armoured vehicles, to look inward. For instance, the governors of some states in the South-West would visit Proforce Limited in Ode-Remo, Ogun State, and confirm that the company makes top quality armoured vehicles, but the next day, they would place an order for armoured vehicles from the United States, instead of buying that which is made at home," Madueke said.

He however hailed the Federal Government's Buy-Nigeria policy, urging the government to be more consistent in its patronage of Nigerian-made automobiles, even as he alleged that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government have been disregarding the presidential directive to look inward.

Madueke's commendation came as the Managing Director of National Trucks Manufacturers (NTM), Kano, Ibrahim Bayero, said the auto industry would bounce back to buoyancy, if all government purchases are channelled inward as the Anambra governor has demonstrated. He said that buses, pick-ups, and tractors made locally do better in the Nigerian terrain than fully built imports, because of the familiarity of the former's manufacturers with the local environment, as well as their ever readiness to provide after-sales support.

At the ceremony which took place at the Ekwueme Square, Awka, and attended by heads of security agencies, traditional rulers, presidents-general of town unions, market leaders, government officials and other guests, each community received one vehicle, while some others received more than one, depending on the population.

Speaking during the presentation, the governor said that the vehicles for each town would be restricted to the benefiting community and be used for security purposes only. He warned against the use of the vehicles to provide escort for politicians and other non-security related activities. The governor also presented cheques worth over N250 million to all the towns in the state for the payment of 10 vigilante personnel per town and for the fueling of the vehicles for a year.

Obi, who noted that it was not the first time the state was procuring vehicles for security purposes, said his government had previously purchased over 300 vehicles for security agencies in the State, as well as assisted them in various ways, including building roads in their barracks.

The governor explained that the decision to buy the vehicles from Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited, Nnewi, was to encourage local industries to expand the industrial base of the state. He said that a new set of his official vehicles had been ordered from Innoson, in addition to 500 buses which would be distributed to all the schools in the state by the end of the year.

The Obi of Onitsha and Chairman of Anambra Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Alfred Achebe, in his remarks at the presentation, said the governor was a blessing to Anambra State, describing as "unprecedented", his developmental projects.