The Cross River State Government has announced plans to partner with indigenous automaker Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) to establish an automobile assembly plant and youth training centre in the state.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Content, Awatt Caleb, disclosed the development on Monday during a media briefing in Calabar, the state capital. He said the partnership follows a recent visit to the Nnewi residence of Innoson Group Chairman, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma.
According to Caleb, the Innoson boss expressed readiness to collaborate with the state government on several initiatives including youth empowerment, vehicle assembly, tyre manufacturing, and agro-industrial development.
“As a state, we’re moving from rhetoric to action. This partnership with Innoson will open a new chapter for Cross River’s local content drive,” Caleb stated.
He revealed that the state government is prepared to allocate land within the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort for Innoson to establish its production facility. The automaker also plans to introduce Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles, electric cars, and a rubber-to-tyre value chain in Cross River.
“Innoson has already requested data on rubber output from Cross River for both export and local processing,” he added.
The initiative aligns with Governor Bassey Otu’s “People First” agenda and is expected to attract investment, create jobs, and accelerate industrialisation in the state.
Caleb also disclosed that Innoson intends to subsidise vehicle prices for Cross River indigenes, particularly transport operators, to enhance access and promote small businesses.
He assured that the selection of youths to be trained or employed under the initiative will be based on merit, not political affiliation.
A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state government and Innoson Motors is expected to be signed soon.
