Jamaica has announced plans to source vehicles from Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing (IVM) in Nigeria. The initiative was disclosed by Jamaican High Commissioner to Nigeria, Esmond Reid, during a tour of the IVM plant in Nnewi, Anambra State, on Saturday. Reid described the visit as “a tremendous opportunity to witness vehicle manufacturing taking place here in Nigeria, which is one of our brothers in the south,” and highlighted the chance to discuss commercial opportunities for sourcing vehicles from the country.
Reid noted that this was his first visit to the facility and that he would consult with stakeholders back home to establish a timeline, negotiate terms, and determine when the sourcing of vehicles could begin. He praised the IVM factory as “top class” and encouraged Jamaican citizens to see it for themselves. “I congratulate the management of this company and I’m very grateful to the minister for making this visit possible for me. This can become the start of something great,” he said.
In response, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, called for strict enforcement of the Presidential Executive Order that mandates government officials to purchase and use Nigerian-made cars. “I’m very proud. This plant is world‑class compared to some of the vehicle manufacturing companies I have seen in other countries. Innoson is doing well,” Onyeama remarked. He added, “Every government official should be obliged to buy and use a Nigerian‑manufactured car. In France, it is impossible to see a French government official driving a non‑French car; the same applies in Japan, Korea, the UK and the US. We have to do the same here. This will encourage and support our citizens and demystify technology.”
Comments are closed for this story.