NESBITT to Invest $150 Million in Peugeot Nigeria

Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) has been acquired by the NESBITT Investment Nigeria, according to the statement from NESBITT.

The new owner planned to invest $150 million into the company in the next three years to revamp the automobile company.

It said the $150 million would help retool and upgrade PAN’s assembly line and boost working capital.

Speaking on the acquisition, Ahmed Wadada-Aliyu, the new chairman of PAN, said the automobile manufacturer would be introducing new brands into the market to establish brand affordability in Nigeria.

“PAN under the supervision of the board shall undergo massive restructuring, and in so doing, we shall observe strict governance protocols, transparency, business integrity, efficiency and ethics in our undertakings,” he said.

“In 2019, Nigeria imported at least 400,000 used cars as against 68,000 brand new vehicles. Because of this imbalance, PAN will be introducing new brands of vehicles into the market to re-launch brand affordability in Nigeria such that Nigerians will have access to brand new vehicles.”

“Our biggest concern is the over 50 assembly plants that have not made any matching investments but are enjoying the incentives of the auto policy.”