Arrangements are in top gear for this year’s Nigeria Automotive Journalists Association (NAJA) Awards.The programme has been slated for December 14 at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to the organisers, the NAJA auto award yearly celebrates the best players in the Nigerian automotive industry, acknowledging the marketing achievements in both business-to-business and business-to-consumer markets of the automotive industry in the country.

Winners in various categories would be announced during the award night judged by the motoring journalists and industry experts in the country, they said in a statement.

Chairman of the 2023 Award Planning Committee, Rasheed Bisiriyu, said the awards celebrate franchise new-car dealers for their exceptional business performance as well as indigenous automakers/assemblers for their efforts in helping to develop the local automotive industry.

According to him, a panel of motoring journalists and top experts in the industry are currently sifting through the list of nominees to decide the eventual winners in various categories.

“The award programme illuminates the significant contributions dealer entrepreneurs make in positioning their brands for acceptability, especially in the area of after-sales services.

“While the industry is recovering, many buyers are tightening their belts, so when it comes to new cars, affordability and low maintenance costs are more important than ever,” he said.

Also commenting on the forthcoming awards, Chairman, NAJA, Mike Ochonma, expressed appreciation to all the stakeholders who had over the years been supportive of all NAJA activities.

On the awards, he said: “Our highly experienced team will choose the categories based on the kind of cars that the public are buying, then put their heads together to settle for the very best car in each category.” He explained that each award is to keep encouraging excellence and celebrate the best and the brightest among the stakeholders, their products, and services in the country.