By Muhammed Nasiru Adejoh.
The member representing Ankpa, Omala and Olamaboro federal constituency at the House of Representatives and Chairman of the House Committee on Steel Development has moved a matter of urgent national importance calling on the Federal Government to take practical steps aimed at reviving moribund automobile assembly plants in Nigeria.
While making his presentation on the floor of the House, Rep. Halims noted that socio–economic benefits of the presence of auto-mobile industries in a developing country like Nigeria is enormous and therefore cannot be over-emphasized.
He asked the House to recall that in the seventies up till early nineties; automobile companies like Volkswagen, Peugeot, Leyland, Anamco etc. had functional assembly plants located in different cities in Nigeria, thereby contributing positively to economic activities in the country.
He added that, “aware of the current economic challenges facing our dear country Nigeria, especially the growing youth unemployment, it has become imperative to device every workable means towards addressing this ugly trend including the revival of the moribund auto-mobile assembly plants”, stressing that this will save billions of foreign exchange used in outright importation of such vehicles.
After the matter was put to question by the Speaker and agreed by the House, the prayers was adopted for an ad-hoc committee to be set up to investigate the major reasons for the collapse of the plants with the view to make the needed recommendations to the federal government on how to collaborate and work with the investors for the immediate resuscitation of the plants.
The House Committee on Legislative Compliance was also mandated to ensure strict compliance with the resolutions.
