Mr. Akan Okon, Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport, Akwa Ibom State.
By Abasifreke Effiong, Uyo.
The Akwa Ibom state government is optimistic that the first set of cars from its car assembly plant will be available in the market for purchase before the end of December 2021.
The car assembly/manufacturing plant is currently under construction in Ikot Ukap, Itu, close to Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital.
The plant will manufacture medium and long commercial buses, private vehicles, fire-fighting trucks, and waste disposal trucks.
Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport, in Akwa Ibom state, Mr. Akan Okon, said the assembly plant would produce its first set of cars latest the end of this year.
Mr. Okon stated this on Wednesday in Itu where the car assembly plant is sited while commissioning school blocks and other projects on behalf of the Governor.
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He said though the car assembly plant had taken sometime to take-off due to the 2016 recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Udom Emmanuel, is still committed to the project.
“I am sure that a lot of people have given up hope in respect of the Automobile Plant in Ikot Ukap. But as you can see, God moves very fast. By the grace of God, we will have vehicles coming out from there before the end of this year.”
“This project was slowed down as a result of the fluctuations in exchange rates, but I am very happy that not withstanding the challenges posed by the economy, the team has been able to come back.
“All the materials for the factory are on ground. From what the company is telling us, the projection is that by the end of this year, they would have started producing vehicles here. We’re quite happy that this will add to the employment opportunities that are available to Akwa Ibom people.”
Mr. Okon said the state government is committed to provide a friendly business environment to ensure quick completion of the car assembly plant and other industries attracted to the state by the Udom Emmanuel administration.
Governor Emmanuel performed the groundbreaking for the construction of the car plant in 2015 as part of its industrialisation flagship project, but construction of the factory commenced in the last quarter of 2020.
Akwa Ibom state government representatives inspecting the construction of the car assembly plant in Ikot Ukap. (Credit: Facebook, Bokime Asuquo).
The car plant is constructed by the MIMSHAC Digital Limited in partnership with an Israeli auto tech, Merkavin Automobile Technology.
The automobile plant is a full package of Israeli technology…it will produce stainless, non-rust vehicles for Nigeria’s climate and terrain, Managing Director of MIMSHAC Digital Limited, Valentino Okorie, said in May during an inspection of ongoing work at the plant by Akwa Ibom state government representatives.
“We are going to produce vehicles that are durable, vehicles that will withstand the rigidity of Nigerian roads. We are building this having in mind of our terrain.”
“We will make sure that local contents are being taken care of. We are taking 20 Akwa Ibomites for training in Israel and when they come back, they will train others”, Okorie said.
