Auto
Isuzu president visits Nigeria, speaks on how to stimulate auto industry, new products
Isuzu president visits Nigeria, speaks on how to stimulate auto industry, new products
President of Isuzu Motors International FZE, Dubai, Mr. Mansoor Ahmed, was in Nigeria last week to assess the automaker’s business performance and how to boost it.
He canvassed more government support for local automakers and other investors in the automobile sector to stimulate economic growth.
According to him, automobile plays a vital role in the industrial development of a nation that will lead to massive job creation for the teeming youth population.
Ahmed spoke in Lagos on Thursday during the visit of the Isuzu executives’ team to the brand’s representative in Nigeria, Koncept Autocentre Limited, a Kewalram Chanrai group company.
The team including Geoffrey Mulandi, Isuzu Deputy Vice President and Sales Head for Sub-Saharan Africa; and Jijo Thomas, Country Head, Nigeria, were received by the Managing Director, Kewalram Chanrai Auto/Transport Vertical, Mr. Anil Sahgal.
Ahmed said for Nigeria to play well under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, he stressed that auto component tier 1, 2 and 3 producers should be encouraged to set up factories to produce various components like tyres, batteries, suspension and trims to get the required 30 per cent local content for auto assemblers to feed other West African nations.
The Isuzu president said, “Government needs to encourage manufacturers to come into the industry.
“There is a need for minimum viable scale to be able to manufacture locally else the business will lose money and will not be sustainable.
“It is about providing the enabling auto policy/structure or law for incentivizing local manufacturers. To motivate investors there should be preferential treatment vs imports on local manufactured vehicles.
He said Isuzu was focusing on Africa because the continent is rightfully considered as the last frontier of global growth.
He described Nigeria as the epicentre of the growth in Western Africa with the country’s huge population and size of its economy, the biggest in Africa.
Ahmed said, “For us, the strategic area for growth is the Middle East and Africa.
“Nigeria’s latent potential is enormous. It is a country with enormous resources, natural and human. It is blessed with oil and has a basket of multiple products in terms of what it has to export.
“Its huge population is also an advantage with the ensuing demographic dividend. Economic growth is based on population and consumption on the demand side.
“The country has a connected aspiring and entrepreneurial young population, a clear demographic advantage.”
Even as he affirmed that Isuzu was doing well in the light and medium duty truck segments in Nigeria, Ahmed said there was room for expansion and it could feed other nations in West Africa.
He said, “Nigeria is the leading economy in Africa and it should be steering and leading others in the auto industry.
“How do you stimulate the industry? Truck is not easy to produce; we are talking about 6,000 to 10,000 parts. There is the OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) level; there are Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3.
“Right now, a market for just 3,000 new trucks is still small size and insufficient for large investments. But with 200 million people and the economy starting to boom, it should be doing about 40,000 trucks, looking at what India is doing.”
He also shared the vision for Africa where Isuzu dreams to inspire African society to prosper thorough offering new integrated business solutions for both products and services.
He said as people’s lives are always supported by the logistics and transportation services, Isuzu has seriously been working for an enhancement of innovation in the transportation and mobility solutions to the society.
Anil, who also spoke on the brand, said Isuzu is the expert in diesel with focus on delivering top quality, reliable and durable trucks and is the global leader in the light duty and medium duty trucks.
He also commented on the government’s drive towards gas-powered vehicles in the face of rising petrol price after the removal of subsidy.
“We definitely want to support the Federal Government. But we need to have the necessary infrastructure in place like CNG filling stations sufficiently put in place to take the project far,” he said.
Mulandi in his contribution announced that the company would introduce to Nigeria, in the next one to two years, heavy duty trucks to increase Isuzu’s market share.
He also spoke on the company’s warranty and the after sales service for their customers.
“In Africa, we have standardised our warranty to three years for the light duty trucks; and two years for the medium duty. That is an indication that we care for the customers and trust our products.
According to him, “Currently, we are extending two-year or 40,000km free service including lubricants, parts and labour to all our new customers in this market.”
Auto
Toyota Celebrates Customers, Partners as Zenith Bank Clinches Top Honour
Toyota Celebrates Customers, Partners as Zenith Bank Clinches Top Honour
Toyota (Nigeria) Limited celebrated customer loyalty, strategic partnerships and industry excellence at its 2026 Awards and Customers’ Night in Lagos, with Zenith Bank, AGL Motors and leading automotive journalists emerging among the biggest winners.
The event, which coincided with Toyota Nigeria’s 30th anniversary celebrations, attracted customers, dealers, government officials, financial institutions, media practitioners and other stakeholders who have contributed to the company’s growth over the past three decades.
A major highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Evergreen Customer of the Year Award to Zenith Bank Plc in recognition of its status as Toyota Nigeria’s most consistent customer over the last five years.
The award came with a brand-new Toyota Starlet Cross, presented by the company’s Chairman and founder, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo.
Managing Director of Toyota Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo; Chairman of TNL, Chief Michael Ade.Ojo, and MD/CEO, AGL Motors Ltd, Alhaji AbdulAfeez Gabar Lado, at the presentation of the 2025 best customer award to AGL Motors at the Toyota Awards in Lagos.
AGL Motors received recognition as Customer of the Year after recording the highest volume of Toyota vehicle purchases in 2025. The Nigerian Army and Zenith Bank finished as first and second runners-up respectively in the category, with winners receiving office equipment worth several millions of naira.
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Toyota Nigeria also used the occasion to honour members of the media for their contributions to automotive journalism and public understanding of developments in the sector. Theodore Opara of Vanguard won the Journalist of the Year Award, while Mike Ochonma of Transport World and Rasheed Bisiriyu of Newstrends emerged first and second runners-up respectively.
In his address, Managing Director of Toyota Nigeria, Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo, described the annual gathering as a celebration of the enduring relationships that have shaped the company’s success since it commenced operations in 1996.
“Tonight is a moment of reflection, celebration and renewed commitment,” he said, noting that the event underscores Toyota’s customer-first philosophy and appreciation for the loyalty and trust of its stakeholders.
According to him, Toyota Nigeria has grown into one of the country’s most trusted automotive brands through its commitment to quality products, reliable after-sales support and continuous investment in customer satisfaction.
Ade-Ojo assured customers that despite prevailing economic challenges, the company would continue to introduce initiatives aimed at making vehicle ownership easier and more accessible for Nigerians.
He also expressed appreciation to dealers, customers, suppliers, consultants, financial institutions and employees for their support over the years, describing them as critical partners in Toyota Nigeria’s journey and future growth.
Toyota Celebrates Customers, Partners as Zenith Bank Clinches Top Honour
Auto
Toyota moves to ease vehicle ownership amid economic challenges
Toyota Nigeria unveils plans to ease vehicle ownership
As rising costs put car ownership beyond the reach of many Nigerians, Toyota Nigeria Limited says it is rolling out fresh measures to make buying and maintaining vehicles easier for customers.
Managing Director, Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo, announced the plans at the company’s 2026 Awards and Customers’ Night in Lagos, where he reaffirmed Toyota’s commitment to expanding mobility solutions in the country.
A statement on Thursday quoted Ade-Ojo as saying Toyota Nigeria would continue to innovate and introduce strategies that would enable more Nigerians to own and maintain Toyota vehicles while enjoying quality after-sales support.
According to him, the company’s commitment goes beyond selling vehicles to ensuring customers enjoy a seamless ownership experience through a robust nationwide service network.
“We will continue to innovate, adapt and elevate our product offerings and service delivery. Our ambition remains clear: to sustain industry leadership while contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s economic development as a responsible corporate citizen,” he said.
He added that the company’s future plans are aligned with Toyota’s global vision of enriching lives through mobility, with a strong focus on innovation, sustainability and value creation.
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Ade-Ojo noted that Toyota Nigeria’s success over the years had been driven by the loyalty of customers, support from dealers, suppliers, employees, financial institutions and strategic partners, as well as the guidance of the company’s board led by its founder and chairman, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of the Evergreen Customer of the Year Award to Zenith Bank Plc, which retained the title as Toyota Nigeria’s highest-volume customer for 2025. In recognition of the achievement, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo presented the bank with the keys to a brand-new Toyota Starlet Cross.
AGL Motors emerged overall winner in the Customer of the Year category, while the Nigerian Army and Zenith Bank were named first and second runners-up respectively. The winners received office equipment valued at several millions of naira.
Toyota Nigeria also honoured excellence in automotive journalism. Theodore Opara of Vanguard was named Journalist of the Year, while Mike Ochonma of Transport World and Rasheed Bisiriyu of Newstrends received awards for their contributions to automotive reporting, mobility advocacy and industry analysis.
Speaking at the event, several dealers and business partners commended Toyota Nigeria’s investments in dealer development, technical training and workshop upgrades, describing the initiatives as critical to sustaining high service standards and customer satisfaction across the country.
Toyota Nigeria unveils plans to ease vehicle ownership
Auto
Zenith Bank tops awards list as Toyota Nigeria celebrates three decades of excellence (plus photos)
Zenith Bank tops awards list as Toyota Nigeria celebrates three decades of excellence (plus photos)
Zenith Bank Plc has emerged as the biggest winner at the 2026 Toyota Awards and Customers’ Night, clinching the coveted Evergreen Customer of the Year Award for the second consecutive year in recognition of its exceptional patronage of Toyota vehicles over the past five years.
The colourful event, held on Friday, May 5, 2026, at The Podium Event Centre in Lekki, Lagos, brought together an impressive gathering of customers, dealers, government officials, corporate partners, media practitioners and industry stakeholders to celebrate the achievements of Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL) and strengthen the partnerships that have sustained its leadership in Nigeria’s automotive industry.
The annual awards ceremony serves as a platform to reward loyal customers, honour strategic partners and reinforce the company’s customer-first philosophy.
The highlight of the evening came when representatives of Zenith Bank were invited to the stage to receive the prestigious award for purchasing the highest number of Toyota vehicles from TNL dealerships in 2025.
The banking giant also secured the same honour last year after emerging as the customer with the highest cumulative vehicle purchases between 2020 and 2024.
In recognition of the feat, Chairman and founder of Toyota Nigeria Limited, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, presented Zenith Bank with the keys to a brand-new Toyota Starlet Cross.
The competition in the Customer of the Year category was equally keen. AGL Motors emerged as the overall winner, while the Nigerian Army and Zenith Bank finished as first and second runners-up respectively. The winners received office equipment worth several millions of naira.
The 2026 edition of the awards carried special significance as Toyota Nigeria celebrated its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of operations since its establishment in 1996.
In keeping with its tradition of recognising contributors across its business ecosystem, Toyota Nigeria also honoured outstanding automotive journalists whose reports and analyses helped shape public understanding of developments in the industry.
Veteran motoring journalist, Theodore Opara of Vanguard, was named Journalist of the Year for his consistent coverage of the automotive sector and insightful reporting on industry trends and Toyota’s innovations.
Mike Ochonma of Transport World emerged as the runner-up, while Rasheed Bisiriyu of Newstrends was recognised as the second runner-up for their contributions to automotive journalism, particularly in the areas of vehicle technology, mobility solutions and market analysis.ĺ
Earlier in his keynote address, Managing Director of TNL, Kunle Ade-Ojo reflected on the company’s journey, describing the milestone as a testament to resilience, innovation and customer loyalty.
“Tonight is a moment of reflection, celebration and renewed commitment,” he said.
“For us at Toyota Nigeria, this annual gathering is more than a tradition. It is a deliberate expression of our enduring philosophy of putting the customer first. It provides a unique platform to honour the loyalty, trust and partnership that have defined our journey over the years.”
According to him, Toyota Nigeria has evolved from modest beginnings into one of the country’s most trusted automotive brands through a relentless focus on quality, reliability and service excellence.
“Since commencing operations in 1996, our journey has been defined by resilience, growth and transformation. Our progress over the past three decades has been anchored on one unwavering principle—creating value for our customers.
“Beyond delivering vehicles that meet diverse mobility needs, we have invested significantly in building a nationwide after-sales ecosystem designed to provide a seamless and premium ownership experience.”
Ade-Ojo assured customers and stakeholders that Toyota Nigeria would continue to innovate and improve its products and services despite prevailing economic challenges.
Several dealers and business partners used the occasion to commend Toyota Nigeria for its continuous investments in dealer development, training initiatives and workshop upgrades aimed at improving service delivery nationwide.
Ade-Ojo expressed gratitude to Toyota Nigeria’s extensive network of stakeholders, including dealers, customers, suppliers, consultants, financial institutions and employees.
“The journey of the past 30 years would not have been possible without the unwavering support and contributions of our stakeholders,” he said.
The managing director also acknowledged the support of Toyota Nigeria’s principal partner, Toyota Motor Corporation, as well as the company’s board of directors led by Chief Ade.Ojo.
He further assured customers that Toyota Nigeria would continue to introduce customer-friendly initiatives designed to make vehicle ownership more accessible despite economic headwinds.
“Despite the monumental challenges in the economy, Toyota Nigeria will continue to devise means that will enable our customers to enjoy their preferred auto brand—Toyota. We will continue to initiate customer-friendly business improvement strategies aimed at making our vehicles more affordable.”
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