Auto

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

Published

2 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.

Auto

Carloha shakes up pickup market with launch of heavy-duty Chery Himla

Published

18 hours ago

February 25, 2026

Trends Admin

Carloha shakes up pickup market with launch of heavy-duty Chery Himla

Carloha Nigeria has officially unveiled the Chery Himla pickup in Nigeria, marking the brand’s entry into the country’s highly competitive pickup segment with a bold focus on productivity, durability and business efficiency.

The launch, held at Orange Island, Lekki, Lagos on February 19, 2026, positions the Himla not merely as a utility vehicle but as a high-performance mobile business asset tailored for commerce, agriculture, logistics, security operations and regional trade.

Speaking at the event, Managing Director of Carloha Nigeria, Mr. Sola Adigun, described the unveiling as a significant milestone for the company and Nigerian entrepreneurs.

“Today’s launch represents a key milestone, with Himla engineered to enhance efficiency and productivity for security outfits, farmers, logistics operators, entrepreneurs and others,” he said.

Built for Bigger Load, Fewer Tripsĺ

At the heart of the Himla’s appeal is its class-leading 1,276-litre cargo bed (1,530 mm × 1,620 mm × 515 mm), designed to accommodate standard industrial pallets and enable what the company describes as “one-trip loading.”

Its optimised chassis and suspension design minimise wheel arch intrusions, creating a flatter and more practical loading surface.

Integrated side and rear steps simplify loading and unloading, helping businesses improve turnaround time in demanding work environments.

Carloha shakes up pickup market with launch of heavy-duty Chery Himla

Auto

ABC Transport reaffirms commitment to safety as Driver Training Academy graduates 137

Published

1 day ago

February 25, 2026

Trends Admin

Group Managing Director of ABC Transport, Mr. Jude Nneji (middle), with two of the 137 graduands at the ceremony in Owerri

ABC Transport reaffirms commitment to safety as Driver Training Academy graduates 137

The Driver Training Academy (DTA), a subsidiary of ABC Transport, held its graduation ceremony recently during which no fewer than 137 driver trainees received the institute’s highly regarded certificates.

A statement by the company quoted the Group Managing Director of ABC Transport, Mr Jude Nneji, as emphasizing the importance of professionalism, discipline, and continuous learning in the transport industry.

He stated this while delivering the keynote address, reiterating the organisation’s commitment to maintaining high safety standards and investing in structured driver development.

Representatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps and NABTEB also delivered goodwill messages, commending the academy for its dedication to quality training and road safety excellence.

Tge graduation held on February 10, 2026, at the academy’s premises in Owerri, was a well-attended and colourful event that celebrated excellence, discipline, and professional development within the transport industry.

The ceremony attracted several distinguished guests who graced the occasion in support of the academy and its graduating students.

Among the dignitaries present were HRH Eze Sir Boniface Ariri, Eze Udo IV of Obibi Uratta, Owerri North LGA, Imo State; Christiana Okey–Egwuumba, National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) State Coordinator; and Onuegbu Vincent Onyekachi, a NABTEB personnel.
Also present were CRC A.C. Njemanze, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Sector Command Representative; ARC Q.C. Nwokon, FRSC Sector Command Representative; and ASP R.O. Abang, Representative of the DPO, Toronto, Uratta.

A major highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of DTA and NABTEB certificates to the graduating students by the Group Managing Director, assisted by representatives from FRSC, NABTEB, and the Deputy Managing Director.

The successful graduation ceremony reinforces the Driver Training Academy’s unwavering commitment to producing competent, safety-conscious, and professionally trained drivers, further strengthening ABC Transport’s culture of excellence and road safety.

Auto

The Beast Goes Hybrid: Jetour G700 Unleashes 900HP Fury

Published

2 days ago

February 24, 2026

Trends Admin

The Beast Goes Hybrid: Jetour G700 Unleashes 900HP Fury

Forget everything you thought you knew about “sensible” hybrids. The Jetour G700 has arrived—and it didn’t just enter the room; it kicked the door down, waded through a river, and parked itself on the throne of the premium SUV world.

If a luxury penthouse and a monster truck had a high-tech love child, this would be it.

Design: The Art of Intimidation

At first glance, the G700 stands as a monolith of modern engineering. Measuring nearly 5.2 meters in length, its silhouette defines what can only be described as “Boxy Chic.”

With a towering stance, matrix LED headlights, and a grille bold enough to swallow a lesser hatchback whole, the G700 commands respect even before the key fob is pressed.

It doesn’t just have road presence—it has its own gravitational pull.

Performance

Beneath its shimmering paintwork lies the Kunpeng Super Hybrid CDM-O system—a 2.0L turbocharged engine paired with dual electric motors delivering a staggering 904 horsepower and 1,135 Nm of torque.