FG Will Not Generate PoliciesThat Will Cause Hardship ForNigerians- Jonathan

The Federal Government will not bring about policies that will cause hardship of Nigerians, President Goodluck Jonathan said on Friday. The President who was speaking in reference to the proposed automobile policy which will see the ban of second hand cars also known as tokunbo cars, also noted that the policy was not meant to cause hardship for Nigerians but to create jobs through local assembling of cars. Mr. Jonathan who was speaking to a 40 man delegation of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEA) led by their President Musa Isiwele, commended them on the acceptance of the new auto policy of government stating that "you are the most important body. I'm pleased with your position, we cannot come up with policy that will punish Nigerians else I will abort it immediately". He noted that Nigerian currently losses $4 billion to importation of cars but by the time that is spent on assembling and manufacturing it will create jobs . The President also noted that greatness of the country was not in the abundance of its oil, but in its diversity and this must be exploited to the maximum to develop the country. Thanking them for the role they played during the 2011 elections he noted that according to the RTEAN President's speech Attempting to be an enemy to RTEAN is suicidal because "you can stop people from going to vote". The association presented a centenary card to the President and decorated him with the title of Great Grand Patron of the RTEAN . In his speech the chairman said, in a resolve to partner with the FG ,the RTEAN Plans to create 1.5mil jobs nationwide for young people in the next one year. He said already the association had flagged off a special mass transit scheme of 4,000 units of exotic brands of taxis and commercial buses/ vehicles as part of efforts to support the efforts of govt to achieve safe, comfortable and effective road transport service delivery. The RTEAN, he said has also embarked on construction of world class transit parks and drivers academy to further give capacity to the transport operators. With over 16million members nationwide, the chairman said the association has already embarked on 1000 units of mass housing projects for members as well discussions with banks and other partners for the provision of suitable vehicle funding schemes, to enable members access funds to purchase brand new vehicles. The association announced its intention to advance the automotive industry and to allow the development of local manufacturing capacities for assembling of Nigerian Vehicles thereby halting further depletion of the nation's foreign reserves of about $4.2billion (N670 billion) spent annually by Nigerians to import cars. "Our association is in full support of this policy". They demanded for the FG's Concessionary Sovereign Guarantee for loans and Tarriff waivers on all vehicles imported by RTEAN. The association also demanded Land Allocation for the establishment of world class ultra- modern transit motor parks in each geopolitical zones of the federation with 3 to be established in Abuja to further add value to the FCT. The RTEAN also demanded an Immediate release of land allocation for construction of corporate headquarters in Abuja and operators licences by the FCT minister to be able to operate all modes of transport services in the FCT as demanded by the FCTA transport policy. They further demanded for the establishment of Transport Development Bank (TDB) by the FG to address critical transport infrastructures development challenges and create unhindered access to financing at relatively friendly concessionary rates . The association also requested for the inclusion of members of RTEAN in the relevant boards of MDAS. In response the President promised to talk to the state governors involved in the economic management team because to work with the RTEAN to ensure that the country has world class parks across. The President also directed the SGF to incorporate the union in all programmes in the centenary celebration. He encouraged them to be part of the upcoming national dialogue.