How Presidency, Lawmakers’ Lust For Foreign Cars Contributed To Recession – CNPP

By Chuks Ekpeneru

The recent photograph showing cars to be distributed to members of the National Assembly has drawn the wrath of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), with the body blaming Nigerian government at all levels, for “fueling endless economic recession through insatiable appetite for foreign goods, particularly automobiles.”

The CNPP in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu said it was time the government stopped importation of foreign cars.

CNPP urged President Muhammadu Buhari and all state Governors to ban use of foreign vehicles as officials cars through executive orders while making case for tax exemption for indigenous vehicles manufacturers in Nigeria.

The statement said that “the time has come for the executive and legislative arms of government to look inwards and patronise made in Nigeria automobiles and other made in Nigeria goods.

“Nigerian economy is still largely dependent on oil and since the market for oil began to dwindle, the economy has continued to shrink.

“Recently, CNPP delegates were taken round the facilities of Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing (IVM) company at Nnewi, in Anambra State, by the Sales Consultant of IVM, Chief Arthur Obi Nwandu, and it was shocking to discover that such a giant world class indigenous vehicle manufacturing company exists in Nigeria and we have continued to import cars.

“Our delegates saw that there is no type of vehicles that are not produced locally by Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing company, yet in February this year alone, Nigerian legislators at the House of Representatives ordered 400 foreign brand of exotic cars, rejecting Nigerian brands.

“It was widely reported in the media that the Reps members rejected Nigerian brands, insisting on foreign ones, preferring imported vehicles and went on to also reject even locally assembled foreign brands of cars.

“The lawmakers bluntly turned down a proposal to patronise Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing, a Nigerian brand we should be proud of.

“How will the Nigerian economy not go into recession when Nigerian government is yet to deal with its appetite for foreign goods, including fuel importation?

“If all political office holders across Ministries, Departments Agencies (MDAs) of government and the executive at all levels as well as the legislators drive Innoson exotic vehicles, the huge sums of money wasted annually on foreign vehicles would have been retained within the Nigerian economy, leading to more  employment and increased GDP.

“We commend the Nigerian military authorities for patronising indigenous auto company like Innoson. If the Nigerian Army deemed it fit to buy military vehicles from Innoson, why would any arm of government reject it?

“We therefore urge President Muhammadu Buhari and all Governors in the country to issue executive order banning importation of foreign vehicles for official use in MDAs and the legislative arm to quickly recover from the current recession and prevent the economy from sliding into recession every now and then”, the CNPP counselled.

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