UVAL assembly plant targets 27000 units yearly
The federal government’s effort at setting up auto assembly plants across the country is gathering momentum and the latest local assembly plant that has joining up and running ones at different stages of auto assembly is United Vehicle Assembly Limited.
Last week in Lagos, a number of motoring journalists in Nigeria were conducted round the UVAL assembly plant operated by the Dana Group, franchise owners of Kia Motors and Renault brands in Nigeria.
The team were conducted round to see the different stages of assembly operations, simulation equipment that test the finished units for suspensions, breaking systems, alignment including a testing ground facility for quality control purposes before final delivery to the buying public.
Chief operation officer, Gitesh Yagnik pointed out that the plant house over 100 engineers drawn from Nigerian universities, all of whom had undergone a top notch intensive training program and capacity development before been employed into the plant.
In his words “we now have 150 trained and qualified engineers that can be compared to international standard and over 50 support staff running the operational and assembly process cycle of the plant”.
The UVAL assembly plant located along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway which is part of Nigeria’s auto policy drive of making the nation a leading manufacturing hub, according to Sandeep Malhotra, Kia Motors chief commercial officer have the capacity to assemble nearly 27,000 units of vehicles every year if there is patronage.
The tour was conducted by Yemisi Onanuga, the supply chain manager, and she gave a holistic and professional insight of the plant’s facility and assembling process to the journalists,
It would be recalled that barely few weeks to the end of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, Olusegun Aganga, former minister for industry, trade and investment paid a visit to the plant, stating that it was technologically advanced and had quality assurance control measures in place.
During the visit of the former investment, trade and industry minister to the UVAL assembly plant, Jacky Hathiramani, group managing director and chief executive officer of Dana Group said, “We are committed to contributing immensely to the development and industrialisation of the nation through this multi-billion investment.”
He told Business Day motoring that Dana Group have taken its growth commitment to a greater height in Nigeria and repositioned our brand by supporting the Nigeria dream. He also revealed that the assembly plant was built to meet Kia Motor Corporation global standards.
MIKE OCHONMA