Nigerians Respect Benz More Than Locally Made Cars — AI Hub CEO

The Chief Executive Officer of AI Hub Limited, Abubakar Bala Usman, has blamed Nigerians’ preference for foreign-made luxury vehicles on a mindset shaped by societal upbringing and social media.

Speaking during a telephone conversation with National Focus, Bala Usman said many Nigerians believe they will receive more respect when driving expensive foreign cars than when using locally assembled vehicles.

“If someone sees you driving a locally assembled vehicle, he is not going to give you that respect compared to someone driving a Benz or a Lamborghini or Ferrari or other luxury vehicles that are produced in other countries,” he said.

Bala Usman argued that the perception does not necessarily reflect the quality of locally produced vehicles, noting that some automobile companies in Nigeria manufacture cars that are more rugged than several imported vehicles.

He said the attitude is largely connected to the mindset Nigerians develop from their upbringing and what they see on social media.

According to him, changing this perception is important for encouraging Nigerians to patronise locally made products and supporting the growth of domestic industries, particularly the automobile sector.