A very strong indication has emerged that the Federal Government will go ahead with the proposed automobile policy, which seeks to ban the importation of used vehicles, popularly known as tokunbo.
President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday said the policy was meant to create jobs through local assemblage of cars and not to create hardship for Nigerians.
The President spoke when he received a 40-man delegation of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, led by its President, Shehu Musa Isiwele, at the State House, Abuja.
He noted that the country currently loses $4 billion annually to importation of cars, which can be used to start car assemblies and create jobs.
He, therefore, commended the union for accepting the newly introduced auto policy. The association presented a centenary card to the President and decorated him with the title of Great Grand Patron of the RTEAN.
Responding to some of the issues raised by the association, President Jonathan assured the members of the RTEAN that he would speak with the state governors involved in the economic management team to work with the association to ensure that the country has world class parks.
He also directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to incorporate the union in all programmes in the centenary celebration and promised to ensure they are represented in the boards of relevant agencies and parastatals.
Speaking earlier, Isiwele said his members would partner with the Federal Government in its bid to create 1.5 million jobs nationwide for young people in the next one year.
He also said the association had flagged off a special mass transit scheme of 4,000 units of exotic brands of taxis and commercial buses/vehicles.
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