L-R: Managing Director, Primero Transport Services, Mr. Fola Tinubu, FRSC Acting Unit Commander, Lagos Island unit Command, Chief Route Commander, S. W Duke who represented the Corp Marshal, FRSC presenting the 2018 Nigeria Auto Journalists Association Luxury SUV of the Year award to the General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Coscharis Group, Mr. Abiona Babarinde while Director General, Nigeria Automotive Design and Development Council, Alhaji Jelani Aliyu watch during the 2018 Nigeria Auto Journalists Association Awards held at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island on Thursday in Lagos.
The Hyundai Creta, Mercedes Benz S Class and Range Rover Autobiography have been name Car of the Year, Luxury Car of the Year and Luxury Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) of the Year respectively by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) Awards held at Eko hotel last week.
The award night which had the Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. Aliyu Jelani and the representative of the Corp Marshal of the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) as special guests was well attended by many chief executives and other stakeholders in the nation’s automotive sector.
Other nominees for the Car of the Year were Toyota Corolla and GAC GA 3. Toyota Hilux and Toyota Hiace clinched the Pick-up of the Year award and Mini Bus of the Year awards respectively. Indigenous Lubricant of the year went to Lubcon, Best New Entrant Lubricant was won by Micking Oil, just as Ceat smiled home with the Tyre brand of the year.
Also Massilia was named as the Most Innovative Auto Company, and Light Duty Truck of the year went to Mitsubishi Fuso Canter. JAC T6 won Value for Money in the Pick-up segment, while AIICO won the Auto Insurance Company of the year.
Yutong bus won the High Capacity Commercial Passenger Bus of the year, the JAC truck won the Heavy Duty Truck of the year. Both are assembled in Nigeria by Kojo Motors and Lanre Shittu Motors respectively.
In his welcome speech, Mike Ochonma, the newly elected Chairman of NAJA, said that NAJA award is the most prestigious and only recognised auto award in the country.
Stating that awards is the only recognised award nationally and internationally, and that the winners were arrived at after an exhaustive, but objective evaluation of competitors in each of the categories
He said that, the award winners which was arrived at through members’ votes, will among other things, provide consumers with sound, comparative information on vehicles that are new to the market.
According to Moses Ebosele, Chairman of the Award Committee, the annual event always provides an opportunity for all stakeholders in the sector to come together to celebrate and exchange ideas especially in the areas of manufacturing, efficiency, innovation and corporate social responsibility.
In his response, Managing Director of Stallion Motors Nigeria Limited (HMNL), Parvir Singh thanked the organisers for putting up the award and for finding the Hyundai Creta worthy for the COTY award.
Also, Corporate Affairs Manager of Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL), Mrs. Bukola Ogunnusi expressed appreciation for the myriad of awards given to TNL for 2018.
