The truck assemblage in Ondo State has been described as Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s monumental way to promoting the economy of the state. The Director of the Ondo Linyi Industrial Hub; Kelvin Zhu; gave this acknowledgement while answering questions from journalists recently at the Hub in Ore, Ondo State. Zhu made this expression against the backdrop of the historic kick-start of operations of assemblage of trucks at the Hub.
First of it’s kind in the country, the Truck Assembly Plant is the latest addition to the series of factories in the Industrial Park. It is a result of the MoU signed by the Ondo State Government with the Linyi Municipal Government of Shendong Province in the People’s Republic of China in 2017. The truck assemblage operated by one of China’s leading truck brands; Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle Company Limited; has it’s products range covering heavy and medium-duty trucks. Following the approval of the grant of license for the automobile assembly plant in November 2019, Dongfeng Vehicle Company; which was established in 1969; began operations of assemblage of the truck parts in Ondo State on March 1, 2020, when the first consignment arrived in Lagos Port. Today, over seventy trucks have been assembled and the numbers are still counting, especially with the assemblage of two trucks per day.
Noting that the Dongfeng Trucks is a popular choice in China because of it’s good quality and friendly prices, Zhu expressed optimism at having a huge customer-base when the trucks are finally rolled out for sales.
Showing the team of pen-pushers round the Truck Assembly Plant, Zhu showered encomiums on the governor whom he described as ‘open-minded’ and one who is passionate about the industrialization of the state. He remarked that the truck assembling plant have provided numerous employment opportunities for residents and the teeming youths of the community; in particular, and the state; in general.
“Governor Akeredolu is very open-minded. He is out to promote the economy of Ondo State. As investors from China, we can benefit a lot, and the people of Ondo State too can benefit by gaining employment”.
“We bring the parts from China, and we assemble it here. We recruit local engineers who we train to get the technologies here. There are about 20 engineers here now; but in the future, we aim to employ close to 200 engineers because this is just the first phase which is assembling. We hope to go beyond this first stage to manufacturing”.
Hailing the governor also, were some Nigerian workers at the company. Abah Peter; an engineer from Benue State, and Haruna Adamu; a technician from Kogi State, in separate interviews, thanked Governor Akeredolu for coming up with the initiative of the Truck Assembling Plant as it has provided gainful employments for the youths. It has also enabled them to learn new skills; and in turn, bettering their lot.
