Victor EzejaThe board and management of Aba Power Limited, says its recent decision to patronise only Innoson vehicles is informed by not only patriotism but also the technical and cost competitiveness of the products.
Managing director of the power firm, Patrick Umeh, made this known in Aba after taking delivery of 31 brand new Innoson buses to enhance the field operations of the power company’s staff.
He said that Aba Power has been using Innoson vehicles and the management is satisfied with the performance.
Umeh, who used to be the commissioner in charge of markets, market rates and competition at the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), stated that even before Aba Power began operations last year, they have been “instructed to give priority attention to Nigerian-made products and services which meet our standards”.
Aba Power is a member of the Geometric Power group founded and chaired by Professor Bart Nnaji, a former Minister of Power who has also been the Minister of Science and Technology.
Umeh, a former executive with the Los Angeles Water and Power Corporation in California, United States, disclosed that Aba Power last year acquired the latest model of Innoson’s pick-up van. He said the vehicle competes effectively with Toyota Hilux brand in its fleet.
“We were thus encouraged to purchase an Innoson passenger bus that sits 18 persons comfortably for our staff, and its performance is no less impressive”.
Aba Power placed an order for 81 Innoson mini buses and pick-up vans last month, and yesterday took delivery of 31.
Umeh described the prices of the local vehicles as quite competitive too, calling it “good news in these economically trying times in the country.
“We plan to increase Innoson vehicles in our fleet soon,” he added.
Umeh also disclosed that Aba Power has, in line with Professor Nnaji’s vision, been buying locally manufactured cables and wires, including the ones used in the new 1,500-kilometre overhead wires in nine of the 17 local government areas of Abia State serviced by Aba Power to boost electricity supply in the ring-fenced area.
“We sourced the wires from manufacturers like Cutix in Newi, Anambra State, which is a publicly-traded company, and other producers like the ones in Ibadan in Oyo State, and in Arepo, Ogun State,” he said.
“Their wires and cables are among the best anywhere in the world, and Nigerian people and businesses easily attest to this fact.”
The Aba Power MD acknowledged that patriotism and nationalism also drive his company’s massive patronage of Nigerian goods and services.
Noting that it is rare to find American government officials drive foreign auto brands, including those manufactured or assembled in the United States, Umeh pointed out that the same applies to government officials in places like Germany, the United Kingdom, India, Japan, South Korea, France, and China.
“Even when Indian and Chinese vehicles were not competing effectively with foreign brands in terms of technical quality and aesthetics, their government leaders insisted on driving them and made visiting foreign dignitaries ride in them.
“What does that tell you? Charity starts at home because patriotic acts like this provide jobs for your people, create immense business opportunities, transfer technology, and conserve foreign exchange.”
The utility leader remarked that massive domestic support for Chinese auto manufacturers enabled China to become within a short period the world’s biggest auto market.
According to him, “Chinese auto firms like BYD (Build Your Dream) are now not just leading global vehicle producers but also the greatest manufacturers of electricity vehicles as well as batteries which power electricity vehicles.
“This is an important lesson to all Nigerians who want our country’s economy to grow rapidly.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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