The Senate spent Thursday per second reading “A bill for a law to make it mandatory for ministries, departments and agencies to give priority to local car manufacturers and indigenous companies in the acquisition process.” The bill was sponsored by the senator representing Imo North, Ndubueze Patrick Chiwuba.
In his main debate, Senator Ndubueze pointed out that the preference of Nigerians for imported goods, particularly cars, constitutes a tension in the Naira force and finally undermines local industries.
He said: “We have been able to institutionalize the use of indigenous brands, brands and services in Nigeria and, instead, we have glorified foreign goods without a particular superior quality. Today, we see the vision of the Naira, and with each fall, inflation bites stronger.”
The legislator said that the absence of protection for local automobile companies has exhausted their number from 54 to 6, while survivors struggle to stay afloat in front of currencies and infrastructure.
He argued that a federal government policy pronouncement on the use of vehicles made in Nigeria would be of great help stabilizing the automobile sector. “How are we going to the free fall of La Naira if we cannot address our appetite for foreign goods?
He proposed that at least 75% of official vehicles used by public officials and public officials should be manufactured locally, not simply gathered. “This is the first step to save our economy, protect our currency and create jobs for our people.”
In addition, he declared that to qualify as local manufacturers, companies must meet certain criteria, including the use of 70% of the Nigerian workforce, investing 75% of their Locally R&D budget and having large -scale technology such as robotic paint machines and electrophoresis systems.
He argued that “government support for local industry should be considered strategically important, a long -term investment and a national security imperative.”
He pointed out that Nigeria could learn from countries such as China, India and Malaysia, which initially prohibited imported cars to grow their local automotive sectors. “Today, these countries have perfected their local processes, and now we are importing their products, some of which cannot compete with our locally manufactured vehicles.”
When lending his voice in support, the Senate Whip Chief, Tahir Monguno, said the proposal would give a legislative support to the previous directive of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on the prioritization of local products. “This law will isolate the directive of the whims and the caprices of subsequent administrations that may want to reverse it.”
Also speaking in support of the proposed legislation, the vice president of the Senate Barau Jibrin said that the bill, if transmitted, “would provide jobs with car engineers in the country and encourage more investors to move to the sector.”
Subsequently, the bill was sent to the Public Procurement Senate Committee for more legislative information, with a four -week timeline to submit its report.