By Isaiah Eka

The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has urged stakeholders to embrace industry regulations in order to ensure safety and environmental soundness of vehicles in Nigeria.

The Director-General, Mr Oluwemimo Osanipin, who made the call at a stakeholders’ meeting in Uyo, said that the council was committed to ensuring sanity in the automotive industry.

Speaking at the meeting with the theme: “Import of Used Cars and Dealership Regulation in Nigeria” Osanipin stated that NADDC would continue to ensure public safety and environmental protection.

He urged vehicles importers, distributors, and marketers to get registered and obey regulations to ensure an organised automotive market.

“Regulation is not merely a formality, it is crucial for several fundamental reasons. It ensures the safety and environmental soundness of vehicles.

“Regulations actively combat the illicit trade of smuggled, accident-ridden and aged vehicles within the country,” he said.

Osanipin further said that regulating the automotive industry would address the detrimental impact that unregulated used vehicles can have on human lives, economy, and the environment.

He urged stakeholders to collaborate towards sanitising the industry in order to realise Federal Government’s intentions for the sector.

Mr Bawo Omagbitse, the Chairman, Nigeria Automotive Manufacturers Association, said that regulation of the automotive industry would be beneficial to every stakeholder.

He said that regulation of dealership would bring sanity to the industry, saying, “it will also build trust and trigger public acceptance of our vehicles”

Delivering the keynote address, Mr Ajibola Adedoyin, the President, Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria, said that regulation of imported vehicles into the country was quite necessary for security reasons.

Adedoyin said that manufacturers should work with the association to encourage local production of automotive vehicles.

He stated that with the right regulations, it would be possible to trace every vehicle imported into the country to a dealer. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Esenvosa Izah and Azubuike Okeh