Innoson auto plant not shut, no worker sacked – Management

Nigeria’s foremost auto manufacturing outfit, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited (IVM), is still producing vehicles with full complement of its workers and has not shut the plant in Nnewi as reported recently in various sections of the media.

These facts were contained in a statement issued by the management of the company in reaction to the publications which purported that the plant had laid-off worker and shut down production over Forex crises.

Explaining, however, that IVM, like many other manufacturers in the country, is experiencing low production occasioned by scarcity of FOREX to import vital components, the statement signed by the Public Relations and Media Assistant, Cornel Osigwe, assured that the auto maker is hopeful that the Federal Government would soon find a lasting solution to the challenge.

The management faulted part of the erroneous reports which specifically stated: “Nigeria’s major vehicle assembly plant, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited (IVM), has announced its decision to shut down production due to lack of foreign exchange to import vehicle components”.

The IVM spokesman described the reports as a deviation from the interview (the Chairman of the Innoson Group), Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, granted to Reuters News Agency which was correctly published by them, but was totally distorted by the various news platforms”.

Highlighting what it said is the correct position, the statement added: Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co Ltd (@innosonmotors) has not shut down its manufacturing plant and is not planning to do so. In as much as the company is experiencing low production due to the inability to get the required volume of FOREX to source for its vehicle components outside Nigeria, it still has absolute faith in the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigerias (CBNs) ability to fix FOREX scarcity problems.

“Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co Ltd has not laid off its staff due to the low activities in production. Rather, what Chief Chukwuma said was “I believe they (Federal Government) are doing something but if they can’t do anything, we will lay off some workers,

“Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co Ltd believes in the Federal Governments drive to boost the manufacturing sector and is aware that this presentFOREX scarce challenge is a phase that will soon pass”