Despite recession, Elizade customers top priority-MD

All is not well with the consumption indices of Nigeria and this is not the best of times for Nigerian auto shoppers. While appetite among for brand new vehicles are growing every day and  sticker prices of vehicles and spare parts are hitting the roof top in geometric progression, prospective buys willing to buy are growing in arithmetic progression.

This has not deterred some stakeholders in the automobile market including Elizade Nigeria which has consistently demonstrated the zeal to remain in the auto market. Only last week, the Toyota dealer gathered its customers in Lagos in an event tagged, ‘2016 Fleet Managers’ Forum titled; ‘Innovation at Work’, to share its experience as well gauge the feelings of its brand loyalists.

Ademola Adejo, Managing Director, Elizade Nigeria Limited once again reminded the audience that all is not well with the country’s auto market size without any prospects for improvement in the near future.

The situation he said has however not deterred the company with more than 40 years the detach itself from customers, hence the rationale behind the annual fleet operators conference. He regretted that for a long period, the twin challenges of government continuous silence and economic slump have hindered chances of a clear path that would enable investors make necessary plans.

He regretted that in terms of population and size, Nigeria should not have any problem with a viable auto industry. According to him, ‘’As much as 800,0000 used vehicles are being imported into the country. We can’t favour importation of ‘tokumbo’ vehicles and expect a new car market to grow.’’

He lamented that things are getting more difficult than expected as new purchase cannot be made to go ahead with businesses, worsened by a market size that is grossly uncertain. The managing director strongly believed that with a population of about 180 million people, Nigeria has the potential to manufacture vehicles, wondering why investment can be attracted if the situation is uncertain to investors.

Among other measures to mitigate the bad situation, he advised government to create a viable finance option to ease vehicle purchase especially in this tough time, and regretted that the country is facing economic downturn, Forex scarcity and an automotive policy that is still on trial.

While promising that Eizade as an automobile dealer would remain relevant by offering products that could deliver value for money, he maintained that the organisation would reinforce its partnership with users to deliver maximum level; standard and innovation that would reduce the challenges as recession hits.

Adeojo, who said the organisation has offered 50 per cent reduction on cost of labour and 17.5 per cent off cost of spare-parts to help customer prioritise preventive maintenance as way of surviving the harsh economic condition, said government must address fundamental challenges in the sector to create a viable automotive industry.

Adeojo, who disclosed that the company was working new services centres as it look out for new ways that would reduce challenges for vehicle users said the country needs to stand together and tackle necessary challenges with one voice. “We have invested so much in IT to improve our services so that we can manage and deliver value to customers,” he disclosed.

MIKE OCHONMA