The first batch of vehicles made for the government of Sierra Leone, as requested by that nation’s Ministry of Defence, have been delivered by Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Ltd, a native Nigerian automaker.
This is in fulfillment of a commitment made by the top brass of the Sierra Leone Defence Ministry, led by Edward Soloku, the Minister of Internal Affairs, and the Sierra Leone Road Transport Corporation (SLRTC), led by its President Isaac Ken-Green, during a working visit to Innoson Vehicles.
Innoson Group’s Head of Corporate Communications, Cornel Osigwe, stated in a statement that the numerous car models purchased during that administration were for the current administration.
President Julius Maada Bio’s administration in Sierra Leone placed an order for the production of Innoson vehicles worth $4.7 million for the officers of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, according to Osigwe.
As of Monday, the first batch of automobiles donated by Nigeria to Sierra Leone departed Queen Elizabeth 2 Port in Free Town (also known as “Water Quay”) for distribution to military personnel across the nation.
The people of Sierra Leone have praised their president, Julius Maada Bio, for acting in accordance with the spirit of the continental agreement by choosing an African (IVM) brand of vehicles for the use of the nation’s Armed Forces in response to the development.
In one of the many reports in the local media on the purchase of the made-in-Nigeria vehicles, a popular blog in Sierra Leone, Focus News Blog, hailed President Bio for believing “that our Army Officers deserve better.”
The post, which showed a line-up of the IVM products from Nigeria, informed Sierra Leoneans that the vehicles would soon be “ready for distribution to military officers across the country” by the government
“Innoson Group has penetrated the vehicles market over the years. It is currently serving as one of the few wholly African car assemblers.
One of the commendations for President Bio by a Sierra Leonean, Francis Ken Samu, said: “We are on top of the situation in tierm of security. Bravo, President Bio. Keep the Military Colour Flag going up higher than ever before in the history of Sierras Leone.”
The introduction of the African Continental Free Commerce Area has made it possible for this development, which is a step towards the acceleration of intra-African trade.
As soon as the Innoson vehicles arrived in Free Town, Sierra Leone’s military forces became the first in West Africa to use IVM products outside of Nigeria.
The Nigerian Army and the Nnewi auto company entered into a collaboration agreement four years ago for the delivery of specially designed cars for its personnel.
The agreement also calls for determining the specifications for the armoured combat vehicle’s manufacturing at the Nigerian Army Central Workshop in Kaduna and strengthening the ability of Nigerian Army troops to actively participate in the successful implementation of these joint ventures.
