Innoson strikes deal with Nigeria Airforce to make fighter jets

The grinding conflict between Nigerian and Boko Haram insurgents has exacted a devastating human and economic toll over the past six years. But for Nigeria’s first car manufacturer, Innoson, the crisis may represent an opportunity, CNN is reporting.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) recently announced a partnership deal with Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM), which will see the company supply spare parts for jets conducting airstrikes against the insurgents.

“The ingenious effort by IVM is instrumental to the continued operation of the Alpha Jets. IVM helped to save the day when help was not forthcoming from abroad,” NAF spokesperson Ayodele Famuyiwa said of the deal.

The air force reached out to Innoson in 2015, as it faced increasing difficulty with the import of vital parts such as brake pads. The deal was struck after a series of site visits around the country.
“The army came to our factories in many states. They saw we had the capacity,” says Innoson spokesperson Cornel Osigwe.

IVM, part of the Innoson Group owned by billionaire Innocent Chukwuma, started producing commercial vehicles such as coaches in 2007, before launching a range of private cars in 2014 — the first to carry a “Made in Nigeria” seal including the IVM Fox hatchback. The robust IVM Carrier model has been adopted by the Nigeria Road Safety Corps.

The offshoot company now employs over 7,000 people and has capacity to produce 10,000 cars a year. It is hoped that the partnership with NAF could help the business expand further.

Innoson has gained several new clients since the deal, according to the spokesperson, including Senator Ben Murray-Bruce.

The company also produces a line of four-wheel drives including the IVM G6. The group also manufactures garbage trucks, vans and taxis. There are plans to scale up capacity to 50,000 vehicles a year, including low-cost options, as Nigeria seeks to promote domestic manufacturing.