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Future of Nigerian auto industry bright, says NADDC DG Osanipin after visiting Innoson assembly plant in Nnewi

Published

3 years ago

November 21, 2023

Future of Nigerian auto industry bright, says NADDC DG Osanipin after visiting Innoson assembly plant in Nnewi

Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Joseph Oluwemimo Osanipin, recently visited Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Ltd (IVM), Nnewi, and was received by the Chairman of company, Innocent Chukwuma.

Innoson thus became the first automaker the new DG visited since his appointment in October. During the tour which took him to the various sections of the existing factory, as well as the site of a new plant under construction, Osanipin gave his impression and commented on other issues in the industry. Excerpts:

What are your thoughts having seen the Innoson factories in Nnewi?

I have visited the Innoson factory where sedans, SUVs, buses and other vehicles, are being manufactured here in Nnewi. I have also come here to see another massive factory that is under construction in another part of the town. As you can see, this new plant under construction occupies a land space of about 20, 000 square metres. That is one. Yet another one of the same size is being constructed next to it. I have come to inspect and see the huge investments, the huge capital being invested Innoson, and know how we can come in and partner with them to know how to move the sector forward. And this is because there is a lot of potential in the industry. From what I have seen today, I am impressed. And let me say that I am positively surprised, because I never thought we had this kind of investment here. I never knew we had this kind of expertise existing here at Innoson, and I never knew that a lot has been going on here in the industry. I have been hearing of Innoson and I have been seeing a lot of Innoson vehicles on the road, but now I think I have a better understanding of what IVM is all about.

Having visited and seen what is going on at Innoson, what should the nation expect from you in terms of impact?

The impact from this visit will be more partnership. Now that we know the capability of Innoson and know their capacity and growth plan, we are in a better position to look forward to more partnership. From what we have seen, by February or March, this new factory under construction would have been completed and commissioned. That means that long buses and trucks can be produced here. So, we are going to have at Innoson two separate factories that can produce different ranges of products. And again today, I saw a CNG-powered long bus that can go more than 1000 kilometres on a fully-filled up cylinder. These are eye-openers for us. These are things that we did not know before now that have been happening here at Innoson. So, we want to expose all these to Nigerians. We need to make these things known to everybody in Nigeria, and bring them to the knowledge of the government and make them known to the fleet operators. Let me tell you that we did a study on the cost of fuel per kilometre: While PMS (Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol or gasoline) is N135 to N137 per kilometre if you use a bus, it will cost between N37 to N39 if it is a CNG vehicle. This is a message we want to pass to the average fleet operators, and tell them: ‘Come and try this. Come and use these CNG buses manufactured by Innoson.’ So, we are going to talk to the fleet operators and see how we can bring them together. We are going to talk to every other stakeholder and see how all of us can work together to grow the industry.

How do you intend to help the auto plants in Nigeria like Innoson source foreign exchange?

We all know the Federal Government’s policy concerning foreign exchange today. It is about encouraging the export of more locally made products. It is part of the discussion I have been having with the Innoson chairman. We can produce more and export to earn foreign exchange. Again, it needs financing. I cannot come here now and promise this or that. But what I can say is that whatever we can do in terms of support, we will do it; even if it means talking to other financial institutions that finance green energy, we can bring them together.

With companies like Innoson partnering with NADDC, will you say the future of the automotive industry is getting brighter?

The future of the industry is bright. We have not done anything yet. There are a lot of opportunities in the industry. We only need people with courage and people that love the country. If Innoson doesn’t love his country and doesn’t’ have the courage, he won’t be making all these investments. If you don’t love your country, you won’t be doing all that. If we have people like Innoson, then we need to support as a country; support our own, and support made-in-Nigeria vehicles and made-in-Nigeria goods. For me, it is part of what I stand for. I stand for made-in-Nigeria vehicles, made in Nigeria goods. I asked what is the percentage of local content in the production of that bus we use in our airports, and I was told it is between 60 and 70 percent. Gradually, we hope to get up to 80 percent, and from there, we know we can achieve more. From what we have seen today at Innoson, the future of the automotive industry is very bright with the support of everyone, all of us. You don’t say you cannot support. In every little way that you can, try as much as possible to support. Talk more about made-in-Nigeria vehicles. By the time all of us support it, the industry will grow.

Innoson started manufacturing CNG-powered vehicles two years ago and is so far the only automaker doing so in Nigeria, but IVM is not among those partnering with the Federal Government to produce the buses to be rolled out following fuel subsidy removal. Is there anything NADDC can do about it?

Let me say one thing. We are not involved in the procurement process, but having said that, whatever assistance we can render by putting forward the manufacturers we have in our list, we will do it. We have the automotive manufacturers which Innoson is part of. So, we are going to push forward our members; that is, those companies that we licensed. We are going to talk to every agency and we are going to talk to the government. We are going to put their names and products forward too. Many people don’t know some of these things, like the CNG. So, we are going to take it out and let people see it, and from there, I am sure in the next round, we will be able to push for patronage for all our members, including IVM.

You took over as the DG at a time the auto industry is at a critical state. What would be your priority in the next few months?

First, what I need to do in the next few months is to put us forward. I mean to put us out there. Let Nigerians know our capability in the auto industry. A lot of things happening in the auto industry are not being told to the public. So first of all, we need to put our better face out there, so that people will know what we have there. Secondly, I know and I talk to some people and the question they ask is: ‘What about after-sale service?’ Innoson knows and I discussed it with him. I am happy that he is working along that line. We are going to encourage every member of the industry to pay more attention to after-sale support. Apart from that, we are going to encourage more local components. And I am happy Innoson is already doing that. What he is doing is what we want to extend to every other member of industry. Let’s improve more on local content.

Is giving legal backing to auto policy a priority? The Jonathan administration introduced it, but did not sign it into law. Buhari was in office for eight years, but didn’t sign it either. Will it be one of our priorities?

I don’t want to put it among what we are going to achieve in three, four, five months. Anything that involves law, you may not be able to put a timeline to it. However, we will continue to push. By next week (this week), we will be having a meeting with all the auto assemblers and manufacturers in Lagos. We are going to discuss the NAIDP (Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan). As I mentioned before, we want it to become law because it is when it has become law that it will encourage more people to invest in the sector.

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Pi-CNG boss: Clean mobility will cut transport cost, create jobs, power Nigeria’s economic growth

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20 hours ago

July 31, 2026

Trends Admin

Pi-CNG boss: Clean mobility will cut transport cost, create jobs, power Nigeria’s economic growth

The Federal Government has declared that Nigeria’s transition to compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicles (EVs) is no longer an environmental ambition but a critical economic strategy to slash transportation costs, strengthen energy security, create jobs and unlock new investments across the automotive value chain.

Making the declaration at the 3rd Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU) organised by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) in Lagos, the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV), Barrister Ismaeel Ahmed, said clean mobility had become a central pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s transport and energy reforms.

Delivering a keynote address titled, “Nigeria’s Clean Mobility Future: The EV and CNG Journey Under the Bola Tinubu Administration,” Ahmed said the Presidential Initiative was established to coordinate Nigeria’s transition to cleaner transportation by building a sustainable ecosystem for CNG and electric mobility.

He explained that the Initiative’s mandate extended beyond promoting alternative fuels to attracting investments, expanding refuelling and charging infrastructure, supporting vehicle conversion, strengthening local manufacturing, developing technical skills and boosting consumer confidence.

According to him, the programme was conceived following the removal of fuel subsidy to provide Nigerians with a practical and affordable transport alternative by leveraging the country’s abundant natural gas resources.

“Our focus from the beginning has been to build the foundation of a sustainable industry rather than pursue isolated interventions,” Ahmed said, noting that Pi-CNG & EV has worked closely with regulators, investors, vehicle manufacturers, conversion firms, financial institutions, development partners, transport unions and state governments.

Reviewing the Initiative’s achievements over the past two years, he said Nigeria’s CNG ecosystem has expanded rapidly, with more certified conversion centres established across the country and refuelling infrastructure growing through public and private sector investments.

He added that vehicle conversions have continued to rise as commercial transport operators and private motorists increasingly embrace the lower operating costs of CNG, while thousands of technicians have been trained to ensure safe and professional conversion services nationwide.

Ahmed also disclosed that strategic partnerships with financial institutions, energy companies, vehicle manufacturers and state governments are helping to improve access to financing, stimulate infrastructure development and accelerate the adoption of clean mobility solutions.

To strengthen safety and regulatory compliance, he announced the introduction of the Nigeria Gas Vehicle Monitoring System, which he said would enhance transparency, improve regulatory oversight and build public confidence in the conversion industry.

While acknowledging the remarkable progress recorded in CNG adoption, Ahmed stressed that the Initiative remains equally committed to advancing electric mobility, saying Nigeria’s long-term transport future would be powered by multiple clean-energy technologies.

He revealed that government is engaging manufacturers, investors and development partners on electric vehicle deployment, charging infrastructure, local assembly and policy reforms aimed at accelerating market growth.

Despite the progress, Ahmed identified infrastructure expansion, consumer financing, local manufacturing, technical capacity development, research, innovation and standardisation as key areas requiring sustained investment and collaboration.

He urged government agencies, investors, manufacturers, transport operators, financial institutions, development partners and the media to work together to overcome these challenges and build a sustainable clean mobility ecosystem.

Describing the media as a strategic partner, Ahmed called on members of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association to intensify public education on the economic, environmental and technological benefits of clean mobility.

“The transition to clean mobility is as much an information challenge as it is an infrastructure challenge. Public understanding influences public acceptance, while market confidence is built on accurate, timely and responsible information,” he said.

He pledged deeper engagement with journalists through regular technical briefings, industry dialogues and improved access to credible data to combat misinformation and promote informed public discourse.

Ahmed said Pi-CNG & EV would continue expanding CNG infrastructure nationwide, strengthen the regulatory framework, support local manufacturing and vehicle conversion capacity, deepen financing partnerships and collaborate with stakeholders to build a commercially viable clean mobility industry.

According to him, the true measure of the Initiative’s success will not be the number of conversion centres or refuelling stations established, but its ability to reduce transport costs, improve energy security, generate employment, stimulate industrial growth and improve the quality of life of Nigerians.

He commended NAJA for providing a platform for robust industry dialogue, saying stronger collaboration among government, industry players and the media would be essential to accelerating Nigeria’s clean mobility transition.

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Côte d’Ivoire woos Nigerian auto investors to regional mobility expo

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1 day ago

July 31, 2026

Trends Admin

From left Mr. Akin Akinbola, MD/CEO of Promosalons Nigeria; Dr. Kaslime Kouassi, Director of Tourism who represented the Ivorian Ambassador to Nigeria His Excellency Ambassador Kalilou TRAORE; and Mr. Luc AZILINON, President of Interlinks Auto and MIWA Africa.

Côte d’Ivoire woos Nigerian auto investors to regional mobility expo

150 global brands to storm Abidjan

Côte d’Ivoire is making a bold bid to become West Africa’s automotive and mobility hub with the launch of EQUIP AUTO Côte d’Ivoire, an international trade exhibition expected to attract more than 150 exhibitors and brands from across Europe, Asia and Africa in a move aimed at deepening regional trade and cross-border investment.

The maiden edition of the exhibition will hold from November 26 to 28, 2026, at the Abidjan Exhibition Centre, bringing together about 10,000 industry professionals, investors, policymakers and members of the public from across the automotive value chain.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday, President of Interlinks Auto and MIWA AFRICA SARL, Mr. Luc Azilinon, described the event as a major milestone in expanding the globally recognised EQUIP AUTO brand into sub-Saharan Africa.

The briefing, held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Victoria Island, was convened by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Promosalons Nigeria, Cameroon and Gabon, Mr. Akin Akinbola, whose organisation represents the organisers of EQUIP AUTO Côte d’Ivoire in Nigeria and Cameroon.

According to Azilinon, the exhibition is being organised through a collaboration between EQUIP AUTO Paris and MIWA AFRICA SARL and is designed to become West Africa’s leading business platform for mobility and the automotive industry.

He said the three-day event would feature exhibitions, thematic workshops, conferences, business-to-business and business-to-consumer meetings, product demonstrations and live vehicle testing.

The exhibition will cover passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles, heavy-duty and industrial vehicles, transport, automotive aftermarket, agriculture and public works, reflecting the realities and growth potential of the West African market.

Azilinon disclosed that exhibitors are expected from Germany, France, Türkiye, Italy, Algeria, Nigeria, Cameroon, India, China, South Korea and Japan.

“Our ambition is to position EQUIP AUTO Côte d’Ivoire as the leading platform for developing business in West Africa by combining innovation with business opportunities and establishing the region as a strategic mobility hub for Africa,” he said.

He added that the event’s innovative B2B2C format would create a strategic meeting point for vehicle manufacturers, distributors, repairers, fleet operators and government agencies, while giving participants access to cutting-edge technologies and mobility solutions tailored to regional needs.

According to him, the exhibition is also expected to stimulate regional trade, strengthen cross-border partnerships, support the modernisation of automotive infrastructure and distribution networks, and facilitate the expansion of international companies into West African markets.

Explaining why Côte d’Ivoire was selected to host the inaugural edition, Azilinon cited the country’s political stability, investor-friendly environment, strategic infrastructure and growing economic influence within the Economic Community of West African States.

He noted that Côte d’Ivoire has maintained strong institutional stability following the 2025 elections, recorded major investments in transport, energy and construction, and hosts the Port of Abidjan, one of West Africa’s busiest maritime gateways.

He also pointed to the country’s robust economic performance, with a growth rate of 6.5 per cent in 2024, driven by agriculture, agribusiness, infrastructure and services.

The Ivorian Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Kalilou Traoré, was represented at the event by Dr. Kaslime Kouassi, underscoring the country’s commitment to strengthening economic and commercial ties across the region through the automotive sector.

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FG Courts China Logistics Deal to Power $1tn Economy Drive

Published

3 days ago

July 29, 2026

Trends Admin

FG Courts China Logistics Deal to Power $1tn Economy Drive

The Federal Government has intensified efforts to deepen its transport and logistics partnership with China, declaring that an efficient logistics system will be central to Nigeria’s ambition of building a US$1 trillion economy by 2030.

Speaking virtually at the 2026 Ningbo–Africa Trade and Logistics Cooperation Forum in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China, the Technical Adviser to the Vice President on Transportation, Logistics and Innovation, Dr. Segun Obayendo, said the Tinubu administration was implementing strategic reforms and partnerships to modernise transport infrastructure, improve supply chain efficiency and position Nigeria as West Africa’s logistics and distribution hub.

Obayendo said the Renewed Hope Agenda places infrastructure development, trade facilitation, investment promotion and economic competitiveness at the heart of the administration’s economic agenda, stressing that these goals cannot be achieved without a modern and integrated transport system.

“Nigeria’s aspiration to build a one-trillion-dollar economy will depend not only on what we produce but also on how efficiently we move people, goods and services,” he said.

“Modern transport infrastructure, resilient supply chains and efficient logistics systems are fundamental to attracting investment, expanding trade and driving sustainable economic growth.”

He noted that Nigeria’s strategic location, vast natural resources, expanding consumer market and access to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) provide a strong platform for regional economic leadership.