THE BENEFITS OF JONATHAN'S NEW AUTO POLICY

Source: thewillnigeria.com

No matter the amount of destructive criticisms of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan the opposition party, the good intentions of the administration is beginning to manifest in all the spheres of the country's economy as well as the wellbeing of the electorate. The good thing about the administration of President Jonathan is that it has not stopped churning out well-thought-out policies that are pro-people despite the progressive attacks by the combination of Boko Haram insurgents and the opposition party.

When the Federal Government rolled out the new auto policy, many armchair critics, probably induced by the opposition, went to work to reduce the policy to a mere propaganda tool to garner support of Nigerians ahead of 2015 general elections. Some of the spin doctors of All Progressive Congress (APC) came up with the ridiculous argument that the policy was not feasible and could not materialize.

To their disappointment, the policy has started yielding positive and practical results. An indication that the policy will lead to the drastic reduction in the prices of vehicles has emerged with The Stallion Group, the parent company of Hyundai Motors Nigeria directing that its locally assembled 1.1 liter engine Hyundai 110 car should sell at N1.5m and the 1.2litre engine Grand at N1.9m.

Before now the imported version of the above cars mentioned was put at N2.7m. Other automobile industries in the country have put finishing touches to assembling their brand of cars locally in the country, thereby making the products affordable to many Nigerians. With this, the era of importing used cars known in the local parlance as 'Tokunbo' cars is over. One can now go to a car mart and pick a brand new car at an affordable price.

There is enormous capability of the new policy to create jobs for our teeming youths and adults alike. Imagine the large workforce that these automobile industries would accommodate in the course of assembling cars locally in the country. For those spin doctors of the APC who are buying space in some of the national dailies to lampoon the transformation agenda of this administration, the new auto policy has, among other achievements, shamed them and their paymasters.

Moribund automobile industries in the country are rapidly being revived since this new policy took effect. Recently, Pan Nigeria revived its moribund assembly plant in the country with the inauguration of Peugeot 301 production line in its Kaduna factory. Imagine the number of Nigerian unemployed youths that this company will engage in the course of its production. Those bashing will find it convenient to gloss over this achievement.

It will do Nigerians a whole lot of good if this and other achievements in are allowed to endure. This can be done by supporting the administration beyond 2015 through the reelection of Jonathan as president. This is not too big to do for an administration that has shown that the good things we see in other climes could be replicated here in our country.

Significantly, President Jonathan is focused on delivering good governance to the populace through formulation of people-oriented policies that are aimed at bettering the lots of the populace. For once, let the opposition accept that this administration has tried in the face of the myriad challenges that it faces progressively on daily basis.

The same success being recorded in the automobile industries is being replicated in the energy sector. In months to come the supply of electricity will improve beyond imagination that artisans and self employed Nigerians will redirect their attitude towards engaging others to expand whatever businesses they are doing.

How else can economic growth and well being of the populace be pursued other than what the administration of President Jonathan is doing in all sectors of the national economy? Read the testimony of the Managing Director, Pan Nigeria, Mr Ibrahim Boyi: 'Our new plant had been fitted to handle multiple Original Equipment Manufacturer brand assembly and, when operational, we will require additional 250 workers at the SKD level, and over 1,000 worker when we migrate to the CKD'. Good news if you ask me.'

Written by Chika Onuora.
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