The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) says Nigeria has capacity to produce between 450,000 and 500,000 vehicles annually.
The Director-General of NADDC, Joseph Osanipin, disclosed this at the opening of the 26th Abuja International Motor Fair on Tuesday.
Osanipin said Nigeria’s annual vehicle demands ranged between 350,000 and 450,000, indicating that local assembly plants could meet domestic demands with appropriate support.
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“As of today, we are between 450,000 and 500,000 installed capacity for automobile in Nigeria.
“Today also, Nigeria buys between 350,000 to 450,000 vehicles annually. What that means is that we can produce it when we put in place some necessary tools,” he said.
He identified access to finance, supportive legislation and local component production as critical requirements for maximising the country’s automotive manufacturing capacity.
The NADDC boss said the Federal Government had released implementation guidelines for the Nigeria First Policy in the automotive sector.
He said the council was also working on an automotive bill and a component development programme to strengthen local manufacturing.
Osanipin said the council had collaborated with the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) to develop guidelines for accessing consumer credit to promote vehicle purchases.
He added that more than 50 per cent of CREDICORP’s disbursements so far had gone to the automotive sector.
The director-general said most vehicles displayed at the fair were locally assembled, adding that manufacturers could customise vehicles to meet the needs of government agencies.
He said the council had agreed with assemblers to establish after-sales service workshops across the country, including through partnerships with existing workshops.
Osanipin disclosed that NADDC had trained about 40,000 automotive technicians to support maintenance and after-sales services for locally assembled vehicles.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, described the automotive sector as a priority under the Tinubu administration’s industrialisation agenda.
Oduwole said the government was supporting the industry through legislation, access to credit, regulations and measures to prevent smuggling.
She said Nigeria would host the automotive exhibition as part of the 2027 Intra-African Trade Fair in Lagos from Nov. 5 to Nov. 11.
According to her, the event will provide opportunities for manufacturers to showcase vehicles and components, attract investment and connect with African markets.
She said that there was a need for Nigeria to take a prominent position in the African automotive value chain under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Oduwole identified the automotive industry’s links with the steel and solid minerals sectors as opportunities for industrial growth and employment creation.
The Managing Director of BKG Exhibitions Ltd., Mr Ifeanyi Agwu, said the fair’s 26 editions reflected sustained commitment to developing Nigeria’s automotive industry.
Agwu urged manufacturers, assemblers, dealers and other stakeholders to support the fair through early participation and stronger partnerships.
He said the exhibition should serve as a strategic platform for product inauguration, business relationships, investment and engagement with government procurement teams.
Agwu called for consistent policies, affordable vehicle financing, stronger collaboration and improved standards to support local production and consumer confidence.
He said Nigeria should become a regional centre for vehicle assembly, component manufacturing, servicing, innovation and automotive trade.
The President of the Electric Vehicle Assemblers and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (EVAMAN), Mustapha Audu, said electric mobility offered opportunities to strengthen domestic manufacturing and create jobs.
Audu, represented by Mr Sam Falleye, the Chairman of Saglev, said the association had 14 member companies involved in electric vehicle assembly and manufacturing in Nigeria.
He said EVAMAN was focused on policy advocacy, industrial standards, investment attraction and local capacity development.
Audu commended the Federal Government’s First Policy, saying it could encourage public institutions and private organisations to patronise locally assembled vehicles.
He said increased patronage would support Nigerian factories, sustain jobs, strengthen domestic supply chains and encourage investment in engineering and technical skills.
The EVAMAN president urged the government to translate the policy into procurement opportunities for locally assembled and manufactured vehicles.
He also called on state governments, corporate organisations, fleet operators and Nigerians to support domestic electric vehicle production.
Audu said the association would collaborate with NADDC and relevant government agencies to promote local assembly, manufacturing standards and technical capacity.
The 26th Abuja International Motor Fair with the theme: “Driving Nigeria’s Automotive Future”, runs from Nov. 10 to Nov. 13 at Eagle Square, Abuja.
The fair brings together automotive manufacturers, assemblers, investors, policy-makers and other stakeholders to showcase products and explore opportunities in Nigeria’s automotive industry.
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