NADDC boss seeks stronger stakeholders buy-in for Nigeria First policy in automotive sector

NADDC boss seeks stronger stakeholders buy-in for Nigeria First policy in automotive sector

 

The Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Joseph Osanipin, has called for renewed dedication to the “Nigeria First” agenda in the automotive sector, highlighting local content development as the backbone of national industrial growth.

Osanipin described the development of local capabilities as a strategic necessity for achieving economic diversification, job creation, value retention, and reducing capital flight.

“Local content development is the engine that will drive this transformation,” he stated.

Osanipin spoke in Lagos through a deputy director at the NADDC, Felicia Oyebolu, at the 2025 Nigeria auto industry summit organised by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) in conjunction with the council.

He tasked stakeholders to take advantage of the First Nigeria policy to create jobs and reduce capital flight.

He emphasized the broader benefits of boosting local production, such as technology transfer, workforce skill development, and creating a more resilient supply chain.

However, he admitted several persistent challenges, including limited access to financing for local manufacturers, unreliable power supply, and an underdeveloped raw materials processing base.

To overcome these obstacles, Osanipin called on stakeholders across the public and private sectors to deepen collaboration, invest in local capacities, foster innovation, and push for stronger policy support.

“The automotive industry has the potential to become a cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrialisation,” he said, “capable of creating thousands of jobs and securing a more prosperous future for the country.”

The NADDC continues to drive initiatives that support local content growth, including incentivising domestic production, supporting R&D, building technical capacity, and enforcing quality standards.

In partnership with key stakeholders like the Nigeria Automobile Manufacturing Association (NAMA) and the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM), the council aims to create a more enabling environment for sustained industry development.