The Managing Director of VON Automobiles Nigeria Limited, Tokunbo Aromolaran has urged the Ad-hoc Committee of the Senate on the activities of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to review its recommendations to reflect the reality on the ground.

VON in a statement in Lagos over the weekend said that with the imminent roll out of its first vehicles on Nigerian roads, VON’s hectic efforts at setting up and commissioning its factory were expected to provoke celebrations and cheer to the Nigerian automobile industry.

 Under the circumstances, the firm said it was surprised by the adverse references on VON reported by the Ad hoc committee set up by distinguished Senators to review BPE’s performance on privatization of public enterprises.

Aromolaran said that the management and staff of VON are indeed disappointed by the fact that their efforts to resuscitate the plant have been blatantly overlooked. “Importantly, VON is on the verge of an historic revival after several years of closure. The first Nigeria made vehicles have commenced roll out from its state-of-the-art facility, intended to replace import of fully built versions.

Through a sustained inflow of capital, the plant has been successfully commissioned with a comprehensive system of equipment and machinery, designed to meet the standards of global commercial vehicle brands. A phased approach to expand the range and volume of vehicles and the requisite financial investment are firmly in place,” Aromolaran said.

According to him, several Nigerians have been employed, helping it achieve larger plans that would eventually benefit thousands of Nigerian staff, ancillary industries and other stakeholders.

He said that the hopes of these deserving families have been enhanced at the prospect of being associated with a large automobile company adding that many socio-economic measures intended to build local expertise and value additions are being introduced.

Aromolaran said that investors are beginning to see a stable polity in Nigeria under the leadership of President Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and are showing great keenness to invest in the country.

“This derives largely from the success of the country in stabilizing the political terrain, creating an enabling environment for commercial activities and investment inflow, and running an open and development oriented government,” he said.

On their part, Aromolaran said: “The promoters of VON Automobiles Nigeria responded keenly to this encouragement through foreign investment to realize the dreams of the privatization programme. We are fully and faithfully committed to ongoing and future investments and to all obligations under the privatization. VON sincerely believes that necessary policy guidelines would be enacted to support the growth ambitions of VON and other committed players in the Nigerian automobile industry.”

He noted that at this crucial stage of recommencement, VON requires encouragement and appreciation rather than adverse allegations and obstacles.

“We proudly present VON as one of the success stories of the Federal Government’s privatization programme now and in the years to come,” he said.

He invited distinguished Senators and interested stakeholders to come on a facility tour of the plant to verify the transformation going on at the VON

Read the full text  below:

Statement from VON Automobiles Nigeria Limited (VON)

Subject : Report of the Ad-hoc committee of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the activities of the Bureau of Public Enterprises(BPE)

With the imminent roll out of its first vehicles on Nigerian roads, VON’s hectic efforts at setting up and commissioning its factory were expected to provoke celebrations and cheer to the Nigerian automobile industry.

Under the circumstances, we are surprised by the adverse references on VON reported by the Ad hoc committee set up by distinguished Senators to review BPE’s performance on privatization of public enterprises.

Tokunbo Aromolaran, The Managing Director said that the management and staff of VON are indeed disappointed by the fact that their efforts to resuscitate the plant have been blatantly overlooked. Importantly, VON is on the verge of an historic revival after several years of closure.  The first Nigeria made vehicles have commenced roll out from its state-of-the-art facility, intended to replace import of fully built versions.

Through a sustained inflow of capital, the plant has been successfully commissioned with a comprehensive system of equipment and machinery, designed to meet the standards of global commercial vehicle brands. A phased approach to expand the range and volume of vehicles and the requisite financial investment are firmly in place.

Several Nigerians have been employed, helping us achieve larger plans that would eventually benefit thousands of Nigerian staff, ancillary industries and other stakeholders. The hopes of these deserving families have been enhanced at the prospect of being associated with a large automobile company. Many socio-economic measures intended to build local expertise and value additions are being introduced . 

The attached photographs are a testimony to the work done by the owners of VON Automobiles to transform it to a modern, viable production facility. We invite distinguished Senators and interested stakeholders to verify the transformation going on at the VON.

The truth is that investors are beginning to see a stable polity in Nigeria under the leadership of His Excellency, President Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and are showing great keenness to invest in the country. This derives largely from the success of the country in stabilizing the political terrain, creating an enabling environment for commercial activities and investment inflow, and running an open and development oriented government.

The promoters of VON Automobiles Nigeria responded keenly to this encouragement through foreign investment to realize the dreams of the privatization programme. They are fully and faithfully committed to ongoing and future investments and to all obligations under the privatization. VON sincerely believes that necessary policy guidelines would be enacted to support the growth ambitions of VON and other committed players in the Nigerian automobile industry.

At this crucial stage of recommencement, VON requires encouragement and appreciation rather than adverse allegations and obstacles.

We proudly present VON as one of the success stories of the Federal Government’s privatization programme now and in the years to come. 

Tokunbo Aromolaran

Managing Director

VON Automobiles Nigeria Limited