By: FEMI OWOEYE Recently, Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL) emerged only Nigerian Automobile Company decorated at this year’s Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) annual award, instituted to recognize deserving sectors of the nation’s economy. Not less than 19 awards were presented to different organizations for standing out in their various sectors. TNL clinched the ‘High Standard in Automobile Service ...

By: FEMI OWOEYE When, last week, the Lagos State government ruled that it would no longer tolerate indiscriminate queues for fuel in Lagos, I thumped up, thinking Governor Ambode had decided to live up to first four letters of his name: “Ambo..”, which literarily translates to “we are coming”. Thursday, relevant government agencies, including DPR, LASTMA and the police swung ...

By: FEMI OWOEYE There is possibility that most future automobiles would be autonomous. In Wester nations, UK for instance, insurance companies are concerned. They still can’t decipher who to blame in case of accidents. It seems tricky. After all, conventional practice is that, in case of accidents, driver of a vehicle, not necessarily owner is culpable. Now we are talking ...

By: FEMI OWOEYE A Yoruba adage says: “Eni to n gbele lo n pale oku mo. Eni ton sokun, aruwo lasan lon pa,” which literarily means: “The grave diggers are the ones helping to bury the dead, not criers and mourners, who are mere noisemakers.” Most Nigerians are presently feeling the bites of economic comatose, no doubt. But rather than ...

By: FEMI OWOEYE It is understandable that, with the continuous crash of the oil prices in the world market, government has been incapacitated financially. Notwithstanding, in a situation like this, economic theory of Opportunity cost and alternative forgone becomes handy. This is a period when relevant government policies, actions and inactions should naturally favour local industries above foreign ones. Reason: ...

Common argument among current legislators is that four-year-old exotic vehicles do not befit “honourable members”. Law makers elected to represent Nigerians at the national level deserve some element of comfort, no doubt. In case they have to attend to constitutional assignments or what they call oversight functions, a pool bus might not be ideal, as the lawmakers may not always ...

By: FEMI OWOEYE Given the number of auto assembly plants now operating in Nigeria, coupled with the federal government’s resolve to pump funds into power generation, the nation could be on its way to industrialization. But, sadly, unless Nigerians, including government functionaries and individuals kill their silly tastes for imported new and used vehicles, it would never reach there. Of ...

By: FEMI OWOEYE About six weeks after Volkswagen AG confessed in the United States that millions of its brands contained software that could cheat pollution tests, Nigeria’s Consumer Protection Council (CPC) issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Volkswagen Nigeria to provide information on the status of its vehicles in relation to the emissions cheating software. It also requested the company ...

Despite the nation’s freedom of information law, certain Nigerian automobile dealers still withhold vital information about their products. Some romance with few “journal-leases”, and shut their doors against selected others. Releasing new cars to journalist for test-drive, a standard practice around the world, including South Africa, is what certain dealers frown at. Some do organize guided road tests. At the end, even ...

Last Friday(September 18th), I was opportune to witness the Ogere Unit of the Federal Road safety Commission (FRSC) on duty. “Courtesy culture”, which the Commission was known for during Dr. Olu Agunloye’s leadership, was witnessed once again. The marshals waved down vehicles, including ours. A smiling female marshal, who attended to us, first of all, addressed the driver thus: “Hello ...