Buhari’s Minister Visits Jet Motor Company Plant, Says Foreign Products Not Better Than Made-in-Nigeria Brands

The Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government has told Nigerians that foreign products are not better than made-in-Nigeria brands.

Naija News reports that this was made known by the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, during a Facility Tour of the assembly plant of Jet Systems Automobile Industries Ltd located at Gbogije, along the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos State, alongside 25 other Commissioners of Budget and Economic Development across the country.

The Facility Tour included the display of the Jet Motor Electric Van (the first in Nigeria) and the DC fast charging station.

Made-in-Nigeria Brands

Speaking during the visit, Prince Clem Agba advocated for a move from primary production to the creation of value-adding goods to help improve foreign earnings in the country.

According to the Minister, the Jet Motor brand and others across the length and breadth of Nigeria were charting a new cause in the fledgling vehicle assemblage industry.

He stated that Nigerians only need encouragement to begin to accept made-in-Nigeria products, adding that Nigerians tend to think products made outside the country are superior.

The Minister said the Jet Mover vehicles, which is done by local engineers, are encouraging “because it helps in technology transfer, human capital development in terms of employment which boosts the economy because there will be less importation.

“It is in line with the Executive Bill signed by President Muhammadu Buhari to promote local content; what this means is that Nigerians are creating employment for Nigerians, and as we create employment, we are invariably dealing with the issue of poverty reduction.

“This is very much in line with the vision of the present administration and also in line with the Nation Development Plan 2021-2025.”

Economic Challenges And Local Production

Speaking further, Agba said despite the non-implementation of the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) of 2014, which discourages the importation of fully built vehicles in Nigeria and encourages local assemblers, the industry is still thriving.

He noted that the President Buhari administration encourages local production, stressing that there are certain challenges Nigeria is currently going through, especially with dwindling revenue coming from the oil sector, where the country gets a large portion of the foreign exchange.

He said, ‘‘The National Development Plan of the present administration speaks to quite a number of things that need to be done so that as a country, we go away from primary production of commodities into value-adding products. That means producing commodities with high complexities so that we can begin to export and earn dollars. It is when we continue to export and earn foreign exchange as a country that we will have money to give to businesses to invest, especially those who are seeking FOREX.”

Jet Automobiles Unique Services

Speaking on the visit of the Minister and 25 other Commissioners, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Jet Systems Automobile Ltd, Wemimo Osanipin said, expressed happiness with the visit.

He stated that the facility visit means that the government recognizes what Jet Systems Automobile Industries Ltd is doing, noting that the visit is an incentive for them to invest more in the economy.

According to Osanipin, ‘‘This visit also serves as an opportunity to showcase the unique services that we have on offer because some of the Commissioners who came with the Minister said that they didn’t believe that our Jet automobiles are assembled in Nigeria.

‘‘The Jet mover is one of the two main local brands in Nigeria; others are foreign brands which are not assembled in Nigeria and if they are, they are foreign brands assembled in Nigeria. But the Jet Mover is assembled in Nigeria; the brand is owned by Nigeria and we are so happy that the Federal Government is associating with us, and they are part of us.

‘‘It shows that they appreciate what we are doing which may lead to patronage in the near future.”

Jet Movers

He said Jet Mover offers unique features, adding that the first is the passenger bus, cargo bus, ambulance, electric passenger bus, and electric cargo bus.

‘‘You can get passenger buses here and there, but ours is unique; first and foremost, our buses have a whole lot of room in terms of size and height. The Jet brand has enough headroom as any passenger can walk inside the bus without bending.

‘‘The seats are also constructed in a way that it is high, and you can stretch your leg because there is enough leg room. There is also the gang which starts from the door to the extreme end of the bus, which only has three seats while also creating enough space for luggage,” he said.