The plants were for the production – using “Completely Knocked Down” (CKD) parts – of two types of cars and four types of trucks/light commercial vehicles (as reported by National Automotive Design And Development Council website).
Noticeably, and for several reasons, the production capacity is not translating to palpable industry output. “Capacity utilisation in vehicle manufacture is below 10% and about 40% in motorcycle, bicycle and components parts manufacturing” (www.nac.org.ng).
This leaves the automotive industry with a huge and increasing domestic demand, one which Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state has set out to satisfy with the Mimshac Merkavim Transportation Technologies Automobile Assembling plant in Ikot Ukap, Itu Local Government Area.
This initiative is a rapid follow-up to the Governor’s campaign promises. Soon after his swearing in, he began inaugurating committees for the revamping of dead industries; a long time expectation of Akwa Ibom indigenes all over the world.
And then on Monday July 13, 2015, barely seven weeks into his government, he inaugurated a committee to oversee Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the state, following that up with a ground-breaking ceremony for the Automobile Assembling Plant for Armoured Personnel Carriers, Ambulances, Fire trucks and luxury cars.
With a potential market in Nigeria and among ECOWAS countries, the project is set to generate employment for Akwa Ibomites and Nigerians by extension, increase internally-generated revenue for the state and bring about regional economic development through auxiliary business units.
At the ground-breaking ceremony, Mr. Udom Emmanuel described the project as “the first chapter in the book of industrialization” affirming his commitment to the fulfilment of his campaign commitment to the people of the state.
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