The Director-General, National Automotive Design and Development Council, NADDC, Jelani Aliyu, has continued his inspection tour of ongoing projects across the country with a visit to the Automotive Centre of Excellence and Service Hub in Sokoto State.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that centres would be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and be manned by well-trained and experienced technicians who will offer highly professional maintenance and repair services for both small and heavy-duty vehicles.
The NADDC is also building similar Automotive Service Hubs in Ondo and Imo States.
Arriving at the site of the project in Sokoto on Thursday, Mr Aliyu went round on inspection, expressing satisfaction with the progress and quality of the work.
He said: “I am extremely happy with the progress. The work has come a very long way. This centre will be offering advanced automobile training to hundreds of thousands of youths in the region, from around the country, and from around Africa.
“This is one of the three of such projects we have initiated in Nigeria. We have another one in Ondo State, and another one in Owerri, Imo state.
“This will be highly centralized training centres where youths would be empowered to be the most professional in the automobile sector.
“In respect of the Service Hub which is also an integral part of this project, vehicles of all sorts; new vehicles and not so new vehicles would be serviced and repaired here.
“We will have highly world class equipment and trained technicians to offer these services.
“So, any type of vehicle from around the region doesn’t have to go any further, it will be maintained here and serviced here no matter the problem with the vehicle.”
Speaking on the motive behind establishing the centres in the three strategic states from Northwest, Southwest and Southeast, Mr Aliyu said: “This is part of NADDC’s mandate in terms of developing the necessary infrastructure and creating the necessary manpower for the advancement of the automobile industry.
“NADDC is committed and God willing we will continue to be committed to empowering Nigerians, millions of them especially the youth in making them self-sufficient because the only viable future for Nigeria is the one where the youths understand and are empowered to get up and practically add value to their society.
“We, therefore, hope that these centres will begin to do that sustainably for many generations to come.”
The NADDC boss also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for giving him all the support he needed to succeed in the agency.
“We are very proud to be making our own contribution towards the success of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration and we are also very proud to be one of the 17 parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment,” Mr Aliyu added.
