Auto
Peugeot to Complete Nigerian Assembly Plant December
By Dipo Olowookere
All things being equal, the proposed Nigerian assembly plant of renowned automaker, Peugeot, should be completed by December 2018.
This is to meet up with the target of producing its first assembled vehicle in Nigeria by the first quarter of next year.
PSA Peugeot Citroen is planning to assemble about 3,500 units in its first year and ramp up to about 10,000 units during the period.
The Peugeot brand used to be the preferred in Nigeria many years ago because of its ruggedness and durability. However, as the purchasing power of citizens continue to wean, the hunger for brand new vehicle dried up gradually as a result for request for imported used vehicles, which were cheaper.
But Africa’s richest man, Mr Aliko Dangote, is making efforts to bring Peugeot back into the Nigerian roads.
To make this happen, he went into partnership with Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) Ltd and five states in the northern part of the country.
Mr Dangote will hold a majority stake in the joint venture, while Peugeot Citroen will own a 10 percent stake in the local joint venture company and operate the plant.
The northern states which include Jigawa, Kebbi, Katsina and Kano would provide off-take for cars built at the Kaduna plant.
The Peugeot factory is expected to commence operations before the end of March 2019 in Kaduna State.
In an interview with Reuters, an aide to Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Mr Jimi Lawal, disclosed that, “The first vehicle should come out by the first quarter of next year. We are hoping that the factory will be completed by December.”
“The land has been identified … we have advertised for a contractor that will build the factory,” he added.
Peugeot has said it would build its 301 sedan in small volumes at a plant operated by PAN. The vehicles will be produced from semi-assembled kits of parts shipped from Peugeot’s plant in Spain.
Nigerian production of additional models such as the 308 compact and 508 may follow later, Peugeot has said.
“Negotiations are still ongoing,” Peugeot said, without providing details.
Mr Dangote, in alliance with two states and the Bank of Industry (BOI), made a bid to acquire a majority stake in PAN after the state-bad bank AMCON sought to sell some of the assets it bought in the wake of the banking crisis in 2009.
Mr Lawal said PAN would start with N3.5 billion ($10 million) of equity and working capital of about $5 million. He said the company would raise additional capital.
Mr Dangote and the state governors have visited France to sign agreements, said Lawal who added that Peugeot would assemble three brands in Nigeria and target West African markets for export.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has cut import levies on new and used vehicles by as much as 10 per cent in a move aimed at reducing the cost of vehicle importation, even as it commenced the implementation of a new Green Tax surcharge.
According to an update issued by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Wednesday, the import levy on new vehicles has been reduced from 20 per cent to 10 per cent, while the levy on used vehicles has been slashed from 15 per cent to five per cent under the 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures, which took effect on July 1, 2026.
The customs said the policy is designed to ease the cost of vehicle imports while advancing the government’s environmental sustainability objectives through the newly introduced Green Tax.
The implementation also reduces the overall import duty on fully built passenger vehicles from 70 per cent to 40 per cent.
As part of the Green Tax framework, a new environmental surcharge of between two per cent and four per cent will apply to petrol-powered vehicles with engine capacities exceeding 2,000cc. However, mass transit buses, electric vehicles, and passenger cars with engines below 2,000cc are exempt from the surcharge.
Beyond the automobile sector, the fiscal measures also lower import duties on several essential goods. The duty on imported rice has been reduced from 70 per cent to 47.5 per cent, while crude palm oil now attracts a 28.75 per cent duty.
In addition, import duties on agricultural and manufacturing machinery have been completely removed to support local production, while Waste PET has been added to the export prohibition list to encourage domestic recycling.
By Dipo Olowookere
Plans are underway to carry out a comprehensive data capture and registration exercise of all commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators within Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA.
This move, according to the council chairman, Mr Lukmon Agbaje, is part of proactive measures to strengthen the security of lives and property across the Local Council Development Area (LCDA). The exercise, he said, would be executed in partnership with security agencies and transport unions.
On Tuesday, the council chief convened a high-level security meeting with leaders of commercial transport unions and key security stakeholders operating within the area.
Mr Agbaje expressed concern over the increasing influx of commercial motorcycle (Okada) and tricycle (Keke) operators into the LCDA without proper documentation or profiling.
According to him, the absence of reliable records poses significant security challenges and could provide opportunities for criminal elements to infiltrate communities under the guise of commercial transportation.
He stressed that security is best achieved through preventive measures, noting that effective profiling and documentation remain essential tools in safeguarding residents and protecting the council from emerging security threats.
Mr Agbaje disclosed that under the new security framework, all Okada and Keke parks and operational locations across the LCDA would be officially documented, adding that every duly verified operator would receive an official identification jacket bearing a unique coded number to facilitate easy identification and monitoring.
He also said a mandatory guarantor system will be introduced to strengthen accountability, ensuring that every registered rider has a verifiable guarantor who can be contacted whenever necessary.
The chairman noted that these measures are designed not only to improve security coordination but also to protect law-abiding commercial operators and discourage criminal activities within the council.
Leaders of the various transport unions welcomed the initiative, noting that proper documentation will distinguish genuine operators from criminal elements, enhance public confidence, and promote a safer working environment for commercial transporters.
Also, the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) of Ayobo and Ipaja Commands commended the initiative, describing it as a timely and commendable step towards strengthening community policing. They reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to working closely with the council to ensure full compliance and sustain peace and public order.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A new in-app audio recording feature to enhance safety, promote respectful interactions, and support fair resolution of disputes between drivers and passengers during rides has been introduced by inDrive.
A statement from the global mobility and urban services platform disclosed that the feature can be activated manually by either the driver or passenger at any point during a trip, providing an additional layer of protection and confidence for both parties.
It complements inDrive’s existing suite of safety tools, including in-trip monitoring, ride-sharing capabilities, and 24/7 customer support. Integrated into the app’s Safety Centre.
The audio recording feature, which is already available in the app, helps address situations where evidence is limited, providing an objective record that enables inDrive’s support team to investigate complaints and resolve disputes fairly.
It also promotes responsible behaviour throughout the ride. Designed with privacy and data security in mind, recordings remain securely stored and are only accessed with a user’s consent as part of an official complaint investigation.
The audio recording feature reflects inDrive’s broader mission of challenging injustice by creating a fairer and more transparent experience for everyone using the platform.
According to the Country Manager for inDrive Nigeria, Mr Timothy Oladimeji, while the vast majority of rides are completed without incident, there are occasional situations where misunderstandings arise, and evidence is limited, making it difficult to determine what transpired.
He added that by providing an additional source of information, the feature enables support teams to conduct more thorough investigations and reach fairer resolutions, ultimately enhancing confidence in the platform for both drivers and passengers.
“Safety remains at the heart of everything we do at inDrive. We understand that privacy is just as important as safety, which is why this feature was developed with strong safeguards to ensure users remain in control.
“The introduction of the audio recording feature reflects our commitment to continuously improving the experience for both passengers and drivers to foster trust, accountability and mutual respect,” he said.
The new audio recording feature is now available within the Safety Centre section of the inDrive app. Users will receive notifications informing them about the feature and how it can be activated when needed.
