Speeches

Nigerian Auto Technical Workshop And Exhibition Organised By The Nigerian Automobile Techinicians Association

Nov 4, 2008 - Let me start by expressing my appreciation to the executive of the Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association for inviting me to your Y2008 workshop and exhibition. I am very pleased to deliver this short keynote address because we are always happy to identify with the activities of critical stakeholders like NATA who play major roles in the transport sector and in the Nigerian economy.

I believe that this workshop and exhibition designed to bring together stakeholders in the country’s auto industry to discuss and find solutions to vital issues affecting it is a great service to the renewed efforts of government to uphold standards in the transport sector of the economy. I find the focus of this exhibition/ workshop very apt and timely as ably summed up in the chosen theme; Fake, Adulterated and Substandard Auto Products and Accessories: The Challenge of our Time.

As a multi-million business, the automobile industry is a vital component in the smooth running of the economy. As the most patronized means of transportation in the country, vehicles move the highest volume of people, goods and services. They must therefore function at good conditions always to make the desire impact on the social and economic development of the country. Fake, adulterated and substandard auto products and accessories are therefore a constant, worrisome threat to the viability of the auto industry. Indeed, fake, substandard auto products and accessories is a big international counterfeit business that is however more endemic in developing countries such as ours, because of their status as consumers of auto products with high presence of unauthorized dealers and traders.

This situation makes the business dangerous because detection of culprits and their punishment is always difficult. The prize of this negligence is always high in terms of loss of lives in avoidable accidents, loss of revenue to the government, loss of public confidence and even the dignity of auto dealers and their spare parts counterparts.

The fake, substandard products come in small but dangerous forms. But they include fake oil filters that are not properly heated and can burst into flames; bogus spare parts which often leave cars owners and drivers stranded on our roads, brake pads which often lead to head on collision of vehicles, and tires which reportedly get burst and result in ghastly road accidents, causing damage to lives and property. Others are fake fan belts, windscreens, wheel covers and even bonnets.

May I, therefore commend the officers of the NATA for this noble efforts to bring auto technicians, vehicle manufacturers and dealers, spare parts producers and dealers, the end users of auto products and accessories and the public under the same roof to share views and exhibit the latest technology towards the proper positioning of the industry to contribute meaningfully to the economic and social development of the country.

There is no doubt that there is need for stakeholders in the industry to meet regularly and review standards in an industry that regularly churns out new brands of vehicle and auto products and accessories and also to properly and regularly educate the motor consuming public because of many known cases of fake and substandard products and accessories sale in our local markets. In many cases, the products are sold to the unsuspecting public without certification by regulatory agencies such as the Standard Organisation of Nigerian, (SON) and the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency, (MVAA) of Lagos State.

This is worrisome because of the danger fake parts and accessories pose to engines, the ultimate safety of lives of drivers and passengers and the economy.

Lagos State which is home to the largest number of vehicles in the country with 222 vehicles per kilometer also plays host to the largest automobile market and invariably has a fare share of the fake, adulterated and substandard auto products and accessories market as well. But as a responsive and responsible government we have always taken measures to check this menace. We have always held dialogue and enlightenment campaigns to inform stakeholders and the public on the dangers of this situation. We are however going beyond campaign now to enforce the law and permanently regulate and checkmate illegal activities in this thriving automobile business and spare parts dealership.

In this light, we are set to implement the contents of the auto law passed by the immediate past administration in 2004 under the former Governor, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It provides for a dealership license which every vehicle and spare parts dealer must obtain by December 31, 2008 to remain in business. That way, we will register and regulate the activities of motor vehicles dealers and spare parts dealers within the State. By January 2009 when we expect full compliance with the law, we shall begin to prosecute and fine offenders.

Apart from harmonising the interests of the dealers, customers, the public and the government, the law provides the stakeholders with a platform to combine efforts and defeat the illegal activities of fake products dealers.

On this note, I wish to urge big and small dealers, regulatory agencies and the media to join efforts with the government in the battle against fake, adulterated and substandard auto products. The consequences of our inaction are obvious because in the short term fake auto products pose danger to life and damage the economy in the long run. The joint and combined efforts to combat the menace will not only restore sanity in the industry but also secure the employment of a large army of distributors and retailers of parts and accessories.

As a government that is committed to the operation and functioning of a viable and modern transport system in the State, we identify with the aims and objectives of this workshop and exhibition and look forward to its successful ending for the participants and exhibitors alike.

It is our hope that gatherings like this will continue to offer the platform for the enlightenment of the people and stakeholders to partner with the government on issues that affect the lives of our people.

I thank you for listening.

“Eko O ni Baje!”

Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN)
Governor of Lagos State