Motor mechanics in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) operating under the umbrella of Apo Mechanics and Spare Parts Dealers Association, yesterday pledged unalloyed support and cooperation with the federal government towards transforming the nation’s economy.
Chairman of the association, Comrade Michael Ndubuisi who spoke at the ongoing Science, Technology and Innovation EXPO 2023 organised by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology in Abuja expressed the hope that federal government partnership with the association could check the menace of importation of used vehicles commonly called Tokumbo.
According to Ndubuisi, “It is only in Nigeria that we don’t use cars and spare them for other countries. They drive vehicles in Europe and other advanced countries and you go and buy them and call them Tokumbo, and we are happy to buy them, but in Nigeria, after we have used cars, we scrap them. That is why we want to partner with the government so that they can give us support to provide technical solutions to these problems.”
The auto-mechanics who attended the annual Science, Technology and Innovation for the first time since inception seven years ago, displayed upgraded versions of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) assembled at Apo Mechanic village, Abuja.
Giving insight into the activities of the technicians, Comrade Ndubuisi explained that “we train and retrain the boys and girls because even women are also into auto mechanics. And because we have been lagging behind, we attended it for the first time since inception seven years ago.
“And what we have come to showcase, (apart from the Hilux van you can see outside there), we have other upgraded cars such as Hilux 2007 Model (upgraded to 2020 Model), Land Cruiser 2008 model (upgraded to 2018 model) and so on”.
Ndubuisi added that Apo mechanics not only upgrade, they also fabricate and refurbish the engines and bring them back to full capacity.
Speaking further, Ndubuisi, who described the government relationship with the association as cordial, also informed that most government agencies patronize them, especially the brand of Hilux upgraded to the new model 2020.
Ndubuisi said, as mechanics, they derive fulfillment from the fact that apart from creating jobs for numerous youths, they have married, raised and trained children to university, built houses and their technical ingenuity is being recognised, commended and patronised.
