Aiyedatiwa lauds NADDC, as council approves first Ondo-based CNG conversion workshop
Ondo state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has commended the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) for its role in ensuring strict compliance with international standards in the automotive industry.
Receiving the NADDC management team in his office in Akure on Monday, the governor, who was represented by his deputy, Olayide Adelami, thanked the council for living up to the expectations with regards to their core mandates.
The NADDC team is in Akure, the Ondo state capital city, for its 2024 management staff retreat with the theme; ‘Bridging the Gap: From Strategy to Action.
The governor appreciated them for choosing Ondo as the best state for the 2024 retreat, urging them to use the opportunity to explore the abundant tourist attraction centres in the state.
He assured the council of state government’s collaboration to achieve their targets as he equally acknowledged their support for indigenous companies in Nigeria, in general and Ondo state in particular.
“I could remember when most raw materials for automobiles were still sourced in Nigeria, it resulted in economic stability because we were producing locally. We must move faster and increase the percentage of local components for automobiles.
“Let me also appreciate you for licensing Lafbart Innovations and Consulting ltd, one of the vibrant firms in Ondo state and winner of the 2024 MSME of the year, to undertake the conversion of PMS-powered vehicles to CNG-powered ones. We will continue to work with you in many areas” the governor said.
Earlier, the Director General of NADDC, Joseph Osanipin, said the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) was set out to increase the local content of assembled vehicles to 40 percent, attain 30 percent of local production of electric vehicles and increase sourcing of local components from indigenous companies.
Osanipin sought the state government’s partnership to train technicians in Ondo state on the conversion of PMS-propelled vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
“We need to increase the local components of our vehicles. We have identified some local manufacturers of these parts and Lafbart, based in Akure is one of those we are supporting. For instance, the firm has produced some tricycles and tricycle ambulance that have supplied for use in Adamawa, Kano, Katsina, Lagos and others.
“If we support and build the capacity of our local manufacturers, we will not need to important over 400,000 tricycles to the country. We are going to save more and keep the money within’
Remarking, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Lafbart Innovations and Consulting Ltd, Femi Olafunmiloye, highlighted the impactful support his organization had received from NADDC over the years.
“NADDC has always given us the needed support to firms in Ondo state. Presently they have a project in Akure that will enhance the expertise, technicalities and skills of technicians in Ondo state”, Olafunmiloye acknowledged NADDC’s roles in the automotive industry.