Auto
Law to enforce made-in-Nigeria vehicles among MDAs coming – Senate
Law to enforce made-in-Nigeria vehicles among MDAs coming – Senate
The Senate has taken steps to enforce a presidential order mandating the purchase of nigeria-assembled vehicles in all government establishments.
Already, the upper chamber has passed for second a bill seeking to compel ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to prioritise the purchase of Nigeria-made vehicles
The legislation, titled ‘Local Automotive Industry Patronage Bill, 2025’, is sponsored by Patrick Ndubueze, senator representing Imo North.
Ndubueze introduced the bill in October 2024 and passed its first reading.
The senator who spoke at the plenary on Thursday said Nigeria’s overdependence on imported automobiles had continued to weaken the naira and damage local industries.
“Any country that aims to achieve steady economic growth and development must have a policy that encourages and provides a framework for local production,” he said.
“It is also important that goods and services are produced locally, as its ripple effect is a reduction in imports and a rise in exports (balance of trade).”
Ndubueze said 54 automobile manufacturing licences had been issued in Nigeria, noting that only six companies remained operational due to forex shortages and poor infrastructure.
He also said many automobile firms had moved to Ghana, where they are now setting up plants to produce vehicles for the Nigerian market.
“How do we stem the free fall of the naira if we cannot address our appetite for foreign goods?” he asked.
“How do we support the development of indigenous brands if the biggest spender, year on year — the government — refuses to buy made-in-Nigeria goods?”
He proposed that at least 75 percent of vehicles procured by public officers and civil servants be locally manufactured, not merely assembled.
“This is the first step to saving our economy, protecting our currency, and creating jobs for our people,” he said.
He said only firms with at least 70 percent Nigerian workforce, 75 percent local research and development (R&D) spend, and technology such as robotic painting machines and electrophoresis systems should qualify as local manufacturers.
“Government support for local industry should be seen as both strategically important, a long-term investment, and a national security imperative,” he said.
He cited China, India, and Malaysia as examples of countries that banned imported cars in their early years to grow domestic industries.
“Today, these countries have perfected their local processes, and we are now importing their products, some of which cannot compete with our locally manufactured vehicles,” he said.
Mohammed Monguno, senate chief whip and senator representing Borno central, said the bill would give legal backing to an existing directive by the federal executive council (FEC) on the use of local products.
“This law will insulate the directive from the whims and caprices of subsequent administrations who may want to reverse it,” he said.
Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president and the presiding officer, said the bill would “provide jobs for automobile engineers in the country and encourage more investors to move into the sector.”
The deputy senate president said the bill will “strengthen our economy and the naira and galvanise the automobile industry.
“We hope the process to get it assented to by the President will be expeditious,” Barau added.
The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Public Procurement for further legislative scrutiny, with a report expected within four weeks.
Auto
FRSC, NADDC, NRC, others to discuss sustainable transportation at 11th Nigeria Transport Lecture Thursday
FRSC, NADDC, NRC, others to discuss sustainable transportation at 11th Nigeria Transport Lecture Thursday
The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Nigerian Shippers’ Council, among others, are expected to dissect and discuss sustainable transportation in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges, the theme of the 11th Nigeria Transport Lecture (NTL).
The event billed to take place on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, is organized by Transport Day Media (www.transportday.com.ng), a monthly hard copy and daily online publication.
The discourse, which will involve industry players from both the public and private sectors, will x-ray sustainability, cutting across all modes of transportation in Nigeria.
According to the Editor of Transport Day Media, Mr. Frank Kintum, the topic is relevant in contemporary times because Nigeria cannot be left behind in the embrace of cleaner and sustainable transportation.
He said, “We cannot run away from the fact that we have to continuously discuss and take action on issues concerning sustainable transportation because it comes with a lot of benefits in terms of cost cutting, life style and general productivity”.
He added that the annual Transport Lecture which had held in Lagos and Abuja in the past, remains a platform for relevant stakeholders in the transport and logistics value chain to discuss and exchange ideas on key contemporary topics as they unfold.
Some lead paper presenters in past editions included MD, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), 1st Edition, 2013; DG, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), 5th Edition, 2018; Former Federal Permanent Secretary, Dr. Anthonia Ekpa, 9th Edition, 2022, and Corps Marshal of the FRSC, 10th edition, 2024.
Auto
NAJA announces date for 2nd Nigeria Auto Industry Summit
NAJA announces date for 2nd Nigeria Auto Industry Summit
…to focus on Nigeria first, local content development
The Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) has announced that the second edition of the Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU) will hold on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Conference Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
This year’s summit, themed “Nigeria First: Local Content as Catalyst for Automotive Economy”, will bring together key stakeholders in government, manufacturing, trade, among others to chart a forward-thinking path for the nation’s automotive industry.
Organised in partnership with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), the Nigeria Association of Automotive Manufacturers (NAMA), and the African Association of Automobile Manufacturers (AAAM), the summit aims to deepen the national conversation around local content integration and the long-term viability of Nigeria’s automotive sector.
It will also dwell on the Federal Government recently launched Nigeria’s First initiative and the buying of the locally assembled automobiles.
The event will be declared open by the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, while Joseph Oluwemimo Osanipin, Director-General of the NADDC, will be the Chief Host.
Commenting on the importance of the summit, Mike Ochonma, Chairman of the NAISU Planning Committee, said: “This year’s summit focuses on how local content can drive sustainable industrialization in Nigeria’s auto sector.
“We are bringing the right voices together—from regulators and customs officials to local manufacturers and traders—so that policies and actions can align.
“Local content is more than policy; it’s the foundation for job creation, skill transfer, and industrial sovereignty. NAISU 2025 will help unify efforts and challenges to go beyond imported solutions.”
Some of those expected to make presentations at the summit are Chief Anselm Ilekuba, Chairman, Association of Local Content Manufacturers (ALCMAN); Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS); Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON); Hon. Ngozi Emechebe, President, Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPAMDA).
Theodore Opara, Chairman of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA), the umbrella body for journalists covering the automotive sector in Nigeria, said, “As auto journalists, we understand the power of information in shaping national policy. NAISU is our contribution to a better-informed, locally driven auto economy.”
“The future of Nigeria’s auto sector lies in how we leverage our local resources, manpower, and innovation. NAISU offers a platform for strategic collaboration that reflects NAJA’s own mandate to build a resilient automotive ecosystem.”
“Local content is more than policy; it’s the foundation for job creation, skill transfer, and industrial sovereignty. NAISU 2025 will help unify efforts and challenges to go beyond imported solutions.”
The 2025 NAISU will feature keynote addresses, panel sessions, and networking engagements centred on how Nigeria can reduce dependency on imported components and increase domestic production capacity.
Issues slated for discussion include: Custom tariff frameworks and local assembly incentives; Supply chain localization and small-scale manufacturing; Technology transfer and skilled workforce development and Regulatory compliance and standard enforcement.
The Nigeria Auto Industry Summit is fast becoming the premier annual forum for strategic discourse on the automotive future of Africa’s largest economy.
For participation, partnership, or media inquiries, stakeholders are encouraged to contact the NAJA Secretariat or visit the association’s official communication channels.
Auto
NEW ERA to commission Nigeria’s first Jetour-branded showroom Wednesday
NEW ERA to commission Nigeria’s first Jetour-branded showroom Wednesday
NEW ERA Autovehicle Services Limited, a new player in Nigeria’s automotive industry, is set to officially commission its state-of-the-art dealership outfit in the prestigious Lekki area of Lagos on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.
This landmark event marks a significant milestone as the Lekki showroom becomes the first Jetour-branded dealership in Nigeria, just two years after the Jetour brand made its entry into the Nigerian automotive market. The new showroom will serve as a flagship hub for the Jetour brand, reflecting its cutting-edge design, premium experience, and customer-centric approach.
The commissioning ceremony will bring together prominent auto industry personalities, top government officials, and captains of industry from across the country, highlighting the importance of this development to Nigeria’s growing automotive ecosystem.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Kemi Koyejo, Chief Executive Officer of NEW ERA Autovehicle Services Limited, expressed her enthusiasm, saying, “We are proud to unveil this pioneering Jetour-branded showroom in Lekki.
“It reflects our commitment to innovation, excellence, and meeting the evolving needs of Nigerian motorists with global-standard services and vehicles.”
The Lekki facility will not only showcase the latest models from Jetour’s lineup but will also provide world-class aftersales support, technical servicing, and a unique brand experience tailored to the Nigerian market.
The opening signals NEW ERA’s strategic vision to establish itself as a key stakeholder in the transformation of the Nigerian auto sector and a driving force in the promotion of globally recognized brands like Jetour.
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