Peugeot mulls fresh investment in Nigeria

Peugeot mulls fresh investment in Nigeria

Thursday, November 19, 2015 11:36 pm


 R-L; . Chairman Board of Director, Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria,(Pan), Mallam M. Munir Ja’Afaru, Executive Vice President - Middle East and Africa, Mr. Jean-Christophe Quemard and MD Pan Nigeria, Mallam Ibrahim Boyi after the  inspection of some latest Brand of Peugeot car by President at the state House in Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE.

R-L; . Chairman Board of Director, Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria,(Pan), Mallam M. Munir Ja’Afaru, Executive Vice President – Middle East and Africa, Mr. Jean-Christophe Quemard and MD Pan Nigeria, Mallam Ibrahim Boyi after the inspection of some latest Brand of Peugeot car by President at the state House in Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE.

After the collapse of the privatised  Peugeot Automobile Nigeria company, the owners of the Peugeot brand are planning to stage a fresh comeback to Nigeria, by way of fresh investment.

This much was disclosed today when a delegation of the France based auto company, led by the Executive Vice President for Africa and the Middle-East, Mr. Jean-Christophe Quemard, visited President Muhammadu Buhari  in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Quemard assured President Buhari that Peugeot was ready to reinvest in vehicle assembly in Nigeria, “provided that the right indigenous partners are found”.

Buhari inspects a  new Brand of Peugeot car PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE.

Buhari inspects a new Brand of Peugeot car PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE.

He also briefed the President on the company’s three-phased plan to resume vehicle assembly in Nigeria.

He said the plan was to start with 4,000 cars next year, rising up to 10,000 cars by 2021.

He said that the plan, which he urged the Federal Government to support with appropriate policies and actions, would entail higher local content in the assembly of Peugeot cars in Nigeria.

He said the plan also included the exportation of locally assembled Peugeot cars from Nigeria to neighbouring African countries.

Peugeot Automobiles Nigeria Limited which was privatised some years ago had technically reverted to government ownership with up to 85 per cent of its shares now held by the Federal Government and the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria

Athough President Muhammadu Buhari  reaffirmed his Administration’s commitment to the Government’s privatisation and commercialisation policy,  he noted that privatisation could only succeed and yield desired benefits “if buyers of government-owned companies possess essential skills and resources”.

He  stressed that greater consideration would now be given to the technical and managerial competence of prospective buyers of government-owned companies.

According to him, a higher premium will be placed on the technical competence and financial clout of bidders in future privatisation exercises to avoid the running aground of privatised companies by ill-equipped and incapable investors.

 

 


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