By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu
Foremost Nigerian vehicle manufacturing company, ANAMMCO, has stormed the ongoing 37th Enugu International Trade Fair with the trucks market leading brand, Howo trucks.
Head of Operations, ANAMMCO Motors & Parts Ltd, Mr Benneth Ejindu, who addressed newsmen at the Enugu International Trade Fair pavilion, highlighted the recent cooperation between ANAMMCO Motors and Sinotruk with the objective of the offering of Howo trucks and services across ANAMMCO sales and service networks.
“Howo brand of commercial vehicles needs no elaborate introduction due to its consistence dominance of the Nigerian truck market. Howo trucks have a wide range of models like tractor heads, dumpers, cargo trucks, concrete mixer truks, fire fighting trucks, sanitation trucks , water tankers etc.
“We are proudly consistent in our participation at the Enugu International Trade Fair. It is very obvious that the orientation of the present administration has improved businesses and attracted lots of investment to Enugu State.
“And look at all the participants, you can see that things have improved. The way they also organised this edition is superb. I’m very glad that a lot of businesses based in Lagos are also participating in this particular fair.
“His Excellency the governor of Enugu State visited the ANAMMCO on April 14, 2024 for totally different matter that was hosted in ANAMMCO and he took out his time to look at the reproduction and when he saw what was going on the level of low activity, he was concerned and inquired how he might help and after some discussions, he said Ok, that he should start with reviving the grounded buses of then coal city shuttle, 50 units of them, lying at the company.
“And so characteristics of what he has been doing before, a lot of projects abandoned before, he has seen them, revived and completed them. Some other projects that have been completed but also went dead, like the Nigergas, he went there and revived it back to life and he did the same thing at the buses as well and we can see that the buses are plying the road –which is a very great thing,” Ejindu noted.
On the company’s survival strategy, he said: “The secret is the experience of the investors, anybody knows that the policy of the government towards industry has not been conducive in any way to support the existence of the industry because the government has removed any form of protection of the local industry and opened up the place for completion.
“In this place, it hasn’t been easy and the investors and owners of the companies are the ones who have kept the company surviving.”
Also speaking, the firm’s Assistant General Manager, Chinelo Igwe said: “ANAMMCO Motors is a one-stop shop for the commercial vehicles products and support services. Our wide range of products and services attest to this.
“Our unparalleled installed vehicle production capacity and track record of excellence power our offers such as commercial vehicle production and sales, vehicle leasing, workshop and field services, training and consultancy, commercial vehicle body building and third party vehicles assembly contracts.
“The ANAMMCO 4×4 Matador pickup is also on display at the fair. It has key features which include: Sturdy build; Optimum performance powered by 2.4 litre Mitsbushi engine; Superb fuel efficiency; Spacious double cabin; Android and Multimedia screen; and Customised booth cover.”
On challenges faced by the firm, the Assistant General Manager listed lack of patronage from government as one of them.
She, however, excluded their host, Enugu State, which she said has been “very helpful.”
Her words: “Enugu State has the unique advantage as our host state and can further utilise that advantage by relying on ANAMMCO for the supply of the state’s commercial 6 needs.”
Earlier, Commissioner for Trade & Industry, Enugu State, Sam Ogbu Nwobodo, had stated that he is happy with the turnaround at ANAMMCO.
“I applaud the revival that has happened and we can’t just sit back and be saying about some of these multinationals that left. I’m glad that ANAMMCO both as time-tested brand or as an institution remains dependable and reliable. Its products are still in market. I always see you here and I want to encourage you to continue and let us know what we can do to support you”, he told ANAMMCO staff.
“We have been partnering a lot, on refurbishment of buses. We bought a few of these trucks and we plan to buy more. We also encourage vehicle dealers to partner with ANAMMCO. We are proud of the ANAMMCO capacity, track record and resilience. We will continue to support ANAMMCO. We also have a Tesla company within the premises and with time, you will experience more collaborations”, he added.
