Nigeria's Innoson now makes fighter jet parts
(Nigeria) The grinding conflict between the Nigerian state and Boko
Haram insurgents has exacted a devastating human and economic
toll over the past six years.
But for Nigeria's first car manufacturer, the crisis may
represent an opportunity.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) recently announced a
partnership deal with Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM), which will
see the company supply spare parts for jets conducting airstrikes against the
insurgents.
"The ingenious effort by IVM is instrumental to the
continued operation of the Alpha Jets," NAF spokesperson Ayodele Famuyiwa
said of the deal. "IVM helped to save the day when help was not
forthcoming from abroad."
The air force reached out to Innoson in 2015, as it faced
increasing difficulty with the import of vital parts such as brake pads. The
deal was struck after a series of site visits around the country.
"The army came to our factories in many states,"
says Innoson spokesperson Cornel Osigwe. "They saw we had the
capacity."
IVM, part of the Innoson Group owned by billionaire Innocent
Chukwuma, started producing commercial vehicles such as coaches in
2007, before launching a range of private cars in 2014 -- the first
to carry a "Made in Nigeria" seal.
The offshoot company now employs over 7,000 people and has
capacity to produce 10,000 cars a year. It is hoped that the partnership with
NAF could help the business expand further.
"The attention is providing a big boost for the
company," says Osigwe.
Innoson has gained several new clients since the deal,
according to the spokesperson, including the National Assembly. Leading
politicians such as Senator Ben Murray-Bruce have offered strong support.
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