Category: Motoring

Kewalram Chanrai Group, the authorised distributor of Mitsubish, FUSO and Foton brands of automobiles, has promised to increase its stakes in auto centres.

The firm’s decision was hinged on its belief that Nigeria holds the ace for future global automobiles development.

The group has set aside millions of naira to refurbish the after sales service segment at all its workshops across major cities in the country.

Chanrai Nigeria Limited Executive Director Raju Sawlani, while briefing motoring reporters, promised customers the company’s desire to meet their demands.

Sawlani said the company’s spare parts divisions is worth N500 million.

The service centres, he said, are to ensure the availability of genuine spare parts of its brands.

He stated that the company has been importing automobiles into Nigeria since 1989, adding that turning things around now was in line with the group’s profile to strengthen the service centres.

“We have an enduring and rewarding relationship with the world leader in automobile. We offer after-sales services with established sophisticated service workshops in major cities which are equipped with the latest diagnostic and repair system including a wide access premises and reception for customer’s comfort. In addition, genuine spare parts are readily available,” he said.

Sawlani said the company is planning to diversify its auto business beyond Nigeria, with Kenya chosen as the liason branch for its auto plant in Africa.

Going beyond Nigeria, he said, was strategic for the group as it plans to ensure that it opens major branches in the continent.

He explained that the company would consolidate by enhancing its brands in terms of sales, quality spare parts and rigorous marketing.

The history of the Kewalram Chanrai Group dates back to 1860. It was established in India as a trading house dealing in textiles.

The firm has over the years become a multi-national conglomerate, operating in over 35 countries with more than 10,000 trained staff.

Poised to transform the transportation sector, Ogun State government last week churned out 150 cars as part of measures to also ease human and vehicular movements in the state. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO reports

The days of the prevalence of old and rickety taxi cabs in Ogun States are numbered if what happened at the government house at Oke Mosan is anything to go by.

The Gateway State launched the first phase of the Taxi Scheme with 150 brand new fully air-conditioned Nissan Sunny/Almera brand of vehicles known as “Igba Otun” meaning, “New Dawn.”

No doubt, it is a new dawn in the overall development of the state’s transportation system.

Last week launching was a follow up to the 23rd September, 2012 launch of the Ogun State Bus Mass Transit Scheme during which 50 small capacity mini-buses and seven high capacity buses were unveiled.

The exercise was the outcome of review of the urban transport operation within Ogun State, including some survey, which showed that shared taxis are the most heavily used mode of transport for local journeys, with okadas also playing a significant role.

According to the research, the taxis are operated by the informal sector and their widely dispersed ownership presents particular difficulties for regulation and the maintenance of good quality standards. Most of the taxis in operation are over 20 years old and the passenger limit for the average taxi cab is seven passengers per saloon car.

Last Monday’s inauguration of 150 cars, according the government, was to complement last year’s launched of the mass transit scheme.

While the buses have been able to take care of our inter-city transportation, the new cars would enhance intra-city transportation.

According to the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transportation, Gbenga Opesanwo, the cars purchased in collaboration with Sterling Bank would be handed over to the lucky drivers with 10 per cent deposition.

The drivers, who must be members of either National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) have four years to pay the balance.

On after sales service, Opesanwo told The Nation that arrangements have been concluded with CFAO motors, the suppliers of the cars to take charge.

“The idea of the scheme, he said, was to gently but surely introduce the best practices into the road transportation sub-sector, give the existing stakeholders a hint of the benefits they stand to reap if they embrace modern and efficient ways of operating, provide them with the opportunity to make an informed decision to embrace change and consequently, transit from the ad-hoc, inefficient, informal operations which has characterised transportation in Ogun State since its creation in 1976.

“I am heartened to report that we have recorded evident, albeit varying degrees of success since the scheme was inaugurated. With particular reference to our pilot intercity operations between Abeokuta and Ijebu-Ode for instance we have, between November 2012 and June 2013 transported just a bit over 700,000 passengers on the few buses dedicated to the route. It remains the service of choice for many who commute daily from Ijebu-Ode to Abeokuta to work and transact business, returning to their homes in Ijebu-Ode at the close of work/business each day.

“In April, this year, we commenced our intra-city pilot scheme – the Metropolitan Bus Service – within Abeokuta metropolis. Between said April and June, we have successfully transported nearly 300,000 passengers. The less obvious result, amongst others, of the aforesaid respective pilot schemes is that, for the first time, we are opportune to have real-time data of ridership which is an invaluable tool in transportation planning and which will assist prospective investors in the sector in a dispassionate evaluation of their options.

“While the residents of Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode, Mowe-Ibafo and environs have continue to enjoy a snippet of our vision for the transportation sector, I am seizing the opportunity to assure commuters in Sango, Ifo, Idi-Iroko, Ogijo, Sagamu, and other rural communities, that the wind of change steadily but certainly blowing across our transportation sector will, God-willing be berthing in their respective communities soon.”

The state governor Ibikunle Amosun described the event as “another step in the fulfillment of our ‘Mission to Rebuild’ Ogun State. Undoubtedly, all the aspects of our “Five Cardinal Programme” continue to witness successful implementation. We have been able to transform Ogun State from what some people call “back-water economic status” to a more buoyant and economically viable state where opportunities abound for every genuine investor.”

Amosun said: “Our state’s new socio-economic status has also brought with it some attendant challenges usually associated with modern development. There is now an influx of more people, coming to find greener pastures as a result of more investment and job opportunities. Apart from the fact that we have been able to provide the security that enhances development of investment, it also infers that we must be able to ensure free flow traffic of people, goods and services. It is for this reason that we have intensified efforts on our road construction projects. It is noteworthy to state that some of the roads under construction which we have styled “Ogun Standard roads” have been completed while others are at various stages of completion. Apart from the fact that these roads when completed will further enhance our transportation system, they also add aesthetic value to our environment. In essence, it will make travelling more comfortable and worthwhile for the good people of our dear state and visitors from other places. These roads are, therefore, means to an end. The end, being to improve the standard of living of our people.”

The governor called on all stakeholders in the transportation industry to come together to ensure the success of this programme.

“Law enforcement agencies such as Police, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), TRACE, Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) and the transport unions such as the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), and all others must come together to ensure the success of this Mass Transit programme and ensure that our roads become safer for all users,” he said.

 

Disturbed by the attendant discomfort to road users on the new vehicle number plates policy, a human rights activist, Dr Patrick Otekpo has urged the Federal Government to slow down on its enforcement.

Otekpo said the directive was an attempt by the government to further impoverished Nigerians and impose more financial burden on the citizenry.

He said the introduction of the new number Plates lacks human face and economic consideration on the masses was unacceptable.

According to him, the Federal Government lacks the data base and records on the poverty level in the country, hence the ‘’unreasonable’’ policy of the new number plates and drivers’ licence.

The National President of a Civil Society Organisation, Niger Delta Youth Awareness Initiative (NDYAI) called on the government in the interest of justice to take a look on the policy and implementation of the new number plates and reverse the policy to the barest minimum.

He said: ‘’To ameliorate the sufferings of the citizenry rather than adding to their present plight of insecurity challenges, food shortage, underdevelopment, political inconsistencies and economic hardship, possession of a new number should be restricted to newly purchased cars applying for registration numbers’’.

The activist noted that the cost of the new plate number was too high, saying it should be reduced to affordable level.

Besides, Otekpo said the October 1 deadline for the enforcement of the new number plates should be extended.

He stressed that if the policy was for uniformity, registered cars prior to the policy should be treated as renewal with payment of token and not fresh registration which amount to double taxation.

His words: ‘’A caring government that has the welfare of its citizens at heart, should know ordinarily that most car owners in the country cannot afford three square meals daily talk less of renewing plate number at a high cost as some of the cars in Nigeria when valued will only appreciate a little above the current cost of the new plate number.

‘’If already registered cars must obtain the new plate number, it must be under the ground of fair hearing on the understanding that the already registered car owners prior to this policy be given more time than the October 1 deadline at a reduced rate of N5,000.00 minimum for renewal.”

Otekpo contended that the policy and its enforcement be given a holistic review towards improving the lives of the citizenry to give room for more consultation.

 

Kia Motors Corporation has announced its global sales figures (export sales, domestic sales and sales from overseas plants) for passenger cars, recreational vehicles (RVs) and commercial vehicles for August, recording a total of 224,988 units sold. This figure represents a 5.9 per cent year-on-year increase.

Kia posted year-on-year sales increases in Korea, China, North America and Europe of 21.6 per cent (39,000 units sold); 13.1 per cent (42,778 units sold); 3.1 per cent (59,527 units sold) and 1.4 per cent (41,545 units sold), respectively.

August sales in General Markets decreased by 3.8 per cent (42,138 units sold); cumulatively thus far in 2013, Kia’s global sales have increased by 2.9 per cent year-on-year to reach 1,840,786 units.

Kia’s bestselling model in overseas markets for the month of August was the B-segment Rio (known as ‘K2’ in China) with 36,587 units sold. The Sportage compact SUV was the second best seller with 30,237 units delivered, while the C-segment Cerato (known as ‘Forte’ or ‘K3’ in some markets), Optima D-segment sedan and Sorento mid-size CUV followed with 29,497, 23,125 and 18,127 units sold, respectively.