Gov’t urged to hasten relocation of Auto dealers to Dakwa, Tungan-Maje

By Stanley Onyekwere

Stakeholders in the automobile industry have urged the Federal Capital Territory Administration, (FCTA) to hasten up arrangements that will ensure speedy relocation of automobile dealers to designated sites in Dakwa and Tunga-Maje areas of the Territory.
The appeal was made by some automobile dealers under the of Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON).
Our correspondent reports that this call was against the backdrop of a recent clampdown on illegal car marts operating within the nation’s capital city.
Making this point, the AMDON’s President, Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria, Prince Ajibola Adedoyin, said relocation of car dealers to their main market in Dakwa and Tungan-Maje would bring about coordination of the dealers activities in FCT.
Adedoyin, who is also the Chief executive officer of Mitchell Automobile Limited, member tehila group, stated that with the completion of the automobile market site in Dakwa FCTA will get more revenue.
According to him, there have been plans for automobile market in Abuja, by the successive past administrations about twelve years ago, but the scheme never saw the light of the day due to political will and bureaucratic bottle-necks.
Adedoyin explained that relocation of the dealers to government approved area will assist in crime control as well as coordination of car dealers’ activities in the territory.
He said FCTA should fast track the market relocation to prevent encroachment by land speculators in the area, which he said will help regulate the import of cars.
He said: “With the relocation of automobile dealers in a designated area will help to address cases of crime as well as revenue generation.
“We are ready for collaboration with government in all areas that will help boost our business, revenue generation and security measures.”
He bemoaned the activities of some individuals who put cars on walkways and green areas for sales, thereby defacing the nation’s capital city.
“People that put cars on green areas and walk ways for sales are not doing well, they are not our members. So, if they say their car marts are dislodged or clampdown, are they on certified commercial land? We can not speak for them.
“If you are on a green area or walk way is not right, we frown at it because there is an association that has rules guiding activities of all registered car dealers.
“We are liasing with the authorities saddled with the responsibility in checking activities of non members,” he stressed.
He asked FCT Vehicles Inspection Office (VIO) to be consistent in supervising activities of car dealers, to address cases of security threat within FCT and beyond.
According to him, the association would not accept the rampart sales of cars at every nook and cranny, he decried the situation and insisted that the union will not tolerate the act.
Recall that Dakwa and Tungan-Maje have been reportedly designated as main market for automobile dealers within the Territory by the FCT Administration through its Directorate of Road Transport Services (DTRS), and the transport secretariat.