President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the ban on importation of vehicles through land borders is to encourage Nigerians to buy locally assembled vehicles.
Buhari made this known during the foundation stone laying ceremony of Eastern Vehicle Assembling Limited (EVAL) and launch of EVAL vehicles in Enugu over the weekend.
The President was represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Legal and Electoral Matters, Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku.
According to Buhari: “We are already fine tuning our procurement policy to support preferential purchase of local vehicles. We are optimistic that in no distant time the support we are giving the automotive sector will generate more jobs and career employment for our young and teeming youths as well as drive the economy.”
He also promised to create enabling environment which would encourage and protect locally assembled vehicles.
Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, said the establishment of EVAL in the state was to help drive investments in the country.
His Abia State counterpart, Okezie Ikpeazu, pledged that his government would support EVAL, by using its vehicles as official cars.
“We have placed emphasis on locally-made goods. We promise to make EVAL vehicles our official cars once the project takes off in Abia State,” Ikpeazu noted.
