Senate Committee on Industry, Pledges Support to CIG Motors
On December 10th, the Director General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Joseph Osanipin alongside the Vice Chairman and Members of the Senate Committee on Industry, continued their second-day oversight visit to local assembly plants in Lagos. The visit included a tour of the CIG Motors (GAC) Factory in Ikeja, Lagos State, a strategic move aimed at boosting the growth and development of Nigeria’s automotive sector.
The delegation was warmly received by Mr. Jibril, the Executive Director of CIG Motors, who highlighted the company’s achievements since its inception. “We started our journey 10 years ago as CIG Motors. In 2017, we launched our first Semi-Knock-Down (SKD) assembly plant in Ojota, with an initial capacity of 500 to 1,500 vehicles per year. Today, we operate a factory with a capacity of 5,000 vehicles annually, which is expected to reach 10,000 units in its second year,” Mr. Jibril explained.
CIG Motors takes pride in local assembling of the majority of its vehicles for the Nigerian market. “We are proud to say that all the vehicles we sell in Nigeria are assembled locally, except for the newly launched MPV model, which we plan to introduce soon,” Mr. Jibril added.
He further emphasized the company’s commitment to local production. With over 400 staff members, including technicians and support staff, CIG Motors also plays an active role in nurturing local talent.
“We use this facility as a training base for students from Nigerian technology universities. We also sponsor some of them to China for advanced training, aiming to develop a skilled workforce that can contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s automotive industry,” he said.
Senator Isah Shuaibu Lau, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Industry, praised CIG Motors for its contributions to the automotive industry, stating, “We are committed to supporting the continued growth and success of the Nigerian automotive sector. The National Assembly stands ready to provide the necessary assistance to ensure the success of initiatives like this”.
The oversight visit signifies the credibility of National Assembly’s ongoing efforts to enhance Nigeria’s automotive industry, support local manufacturing, and create a sustainable, skilled workforce in the sector.
