President Goodluck Jonathan has assured Nigerians that the proposed automobile policy is meant to create jobs and not hardship.
The policy, which seeks to ban the importation of used vehicles, popularly known as ‘tokunbo cars’ has been widely condemned because of its tendency to cause hardship for the people.
But, the President while receiving a 40-man delegation of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) led by its President Shehu Musa Isiwele, at the State House, gave the indication that there is no going back on the policy.
He insisted that the policy if fully implemented will create jobs through local assemblage of cars, noting that the country currently loses $4 billion annually to importation of cars.
President Jonathan therefore, commended the association for accepting the newly introduced auto policy.
On the issues raised by the association, President Jonathan assured that he would speak with the state governors involved in the economic management team to work with the RTEAN to ensure that the country has world class parks.
Also, the President directed the SGF to incorporate the union in all programmes in the centenary celebration and promised to ensure they are represented in the boards of relevant agencies and parastatals.
Speaking earlier, RTEAN President said his members would partner with the Federal Government in its bid to create 1.5 million jobs nationwide for young people in the next one year.
He also said the association had flagged off a special mass transit scheme of 4,000 units of exotic brands of taxis and commercial buses/vehicles.
The association decorated him with the title of Great Grand Patron of the RTEAN and presented him with a centenary card.
