The Lagos State Government and Choice International Group (CIG) Motors’ automobile assembly plant would produce 5,000 units of cars every year.
This was dsiclosed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu during the inspection of the assembly plant in Ogba area of the state on Thursday.
The governor’s visit to the plant came 17 months after he formally sealed a Joint Venture Agreement with the automobile company, for the establishment of a vehicle assembly plant in the state.
The deal was struck by the state government and Chinese Investors’ Community in November 2019 during Sanwo-Olu’s business trip to China.
He was received by the Chairman of the CIG Motors Company Ltd., Chief Diana Chen, a Chinese investor.
The ancillary facilities already in place in the yard included wheel balancing chamber, spraying booths, maintenance hall, noise testing chambers, sprinkling arena to test for roof leakage, staff lounge and auto parts warehouse.
The governor said, “This is one of the things we promised Lagosians. Apart from our relationship with CIG Motors, there is a partnership in which we are setting up a vehicle assembly plant.
“This is becoming a reality, as the site is live with structures and assembly equipment. The place has been well prepared for the production of vehicles.
“We initially agreed it would be SKD (Semi Knocked Down) but now the facility has moved to CKD (Completely Knocked Down).
“We are hoping that their first plan is to have a production capacity of 5,000 vehicles, after which it will be pushed to 10,000 vehicles per year.’
Sanwo-Olu said the automobile assembly plant would create employment opportunities for local skilled workers, as 95 per cent of the workforce would be sourced locally.
Chief Chen said that the plan was to make GAC motors a household name in Nigeria, as well as the official vehicle for Lagos State.
