MOMAN, ALCMAN Partner BKG to Drive Nigeria’s Shift from Auto Imports to Industrial Production

MOMAN, ALCMAN Partner BKG to Drive Nigeria’s Shift from Auto Imports to Industrial Production

 

In what industry stakeholders view as a decisive move toward industrial rebirth, BKG Exhibitions Limited has entered into a strategic partnership with the Motorcycle Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and the Automotive Local Content Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (ALCMAN) to accelerate local automotive manufacturing and reduce the country’s heavy reliance on imports.

The alliance, formalised in Lagos, signals a coordinated private-sector effort to reposition Nigeria’s automotive ecosystem from an import-dependent market to a production-driven industrial base capable of delivering value addition, technology transfer, and large-scale employment.

For decades, Nigeria’s automotive sector has been dominated by the importation of fully built vehicles and, more recently, the assembly of semi-knocked-down (SKD) and completely knocked-down (CKD) kits.

While these models generated commercial activity, stakeholders argue they failed to build deep industrial capacity or strengthen indigenous engineering expertise.

The new partnership seeks to change that narrative by transforming trade exhibitions into structured industrial platforms that connect manufacturers with policymakers, institutional buyers, investors, and international technical partners.

A senior executive at BKG Exhibitions said the collaboration represents a deliberate shift in strategy.

“Exhibitions must go beyond passive marketplaces. They must become engines of economic transformation where Nigerian manufacturers secure contracts, attract capital, and demonstrate production competence,” he said, noting that Nigeria already possesses strong demand but lacks a coordinated ecosystem to convert that demand into domestic output.

“Nigeria remains one of Africa’s largest mobility markets, driven by rapid urbanisation, a growing youth population, and expanding last-mile logistics services.

“Motorcycles and tricycles play a critical role in urban transport, agriculture distribution, and the fast-growing delivery economy.

“However, a substantial portion of these vehicles and their components are imported, placing pressure on foreign exchange and limiting domestic industrial growth.”

MOMAN President Rev. Lambert Ekewuba emphasized that strengthening local production would go beyond import substitution.

“When we manufacture locally, we create jobs, retain capital, and build the technical foundation for advanced automotive engineering,” he said.

ALCMAN Chairman, Chief Anselm Ilekuba, stressed the importance of developing a resilient components ecosystem, describing it as the backbone of any successful automotive industry.

“No country becomes an automotive powerhouse without first nurturing strong supplier networks. Nigeria must empower small and medium-scale enterprises producing metal parts, plastics, electrical systems, and other inputs,” he said.

Under the alliance, future exhibitions will feature dedicated pavilions showcasing Nigerian-made components and vehicles, offering manufacturers direct access to government agencies, transport operators, and regional distributors.

Analysts believe such curated exposure could gradually shift procurement patterns toward locally produced alternatives.

Beyond the domestic market, the partnership aims to position Nigeria as a manufacturing hub serving West and Central Africa, leveraging opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Industry leaders say expanding export capacity will depend on strengthening standards, financing mechanisms, and technical capability.

The alliance also plans coordinated advocacy for policies that support localisation, including improved access to financing, reduced duties on industrial machinery, technical training aligned with modern production systems, and procurement frameworks favouring locally manufactured goods.

Economists argue that a revitalised automotive manufacturing base could stimulate growth across steel, petrochemicals, logistics, warehousing, and tooling industries, reinforcing the sector’s role as a catalyst for broader industrialisation.

Coming at a time when Nigeria is intensifying efforts to diversify its economy away from oil dependence, stakeholders say the success of this alliance could mark a turning point — shifting the country from being one of Africa’s largest automotive consumption markets to an emerging centre of production, innovation, and regional trade.