Maku Rings ‘Tokunbo’ Ban to Protect Innoson Motors

Labaran Maku, minister of Information, has called for a ban on the importation of fairly used vehicles, commonly known as ‘Tokunbo’ into the country to protect indigenous car manufacturer plants.

Maku spoke at the weekend in Anambra State, when he led members of the National Good Governance Tour on an inspection of the Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) Co. Ltd.

The minister urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government to begin to implement the resolution of the Federal Government to patronize the company.

“There is need to encourage him (Innoson Group Chairman, Chief Innocent Chukwuma) because for a long time many Nigerians attempted to achieve what he has done by setting up assembling plants and seeking technical transfer such as Peugeot and Volkswagen. This is not an assembling plant, it is a manufacturing plant”, the minister emphasised.

Guiding the team on a tour of the factory, Chief Chukwuma, Innoson’s Group chairman, said the factory rolls out 300 vehicles monthly.

He also said that over 7,000 workers are under his employment across his 4 factories including those for waste bin and plastic production.

According to Chukwuma, exporting of the IVM vehicles has already commenced.

Ghana, he said for instance, has ordered 200 units of his vehicles and here in the country, the Chief of Army Staff recently ordered 20 units.