NADDC unveils bold road map to make Nigeria West Africa’s auto powerhouse, pushes NAIDP Bill
The Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Otunba Joseph Osanipin, has reaffirmed the Council’s unwavering commitment to transforming Nigeria into a globally competitive automotive powerhouse.
He made this declaration on Tuesday at the opening of the 25th Abuja International Motor Fair—an edition that marks the fair’s Silver Jubilee and underscores its role in shaping the nation’s motoring landscape.
Addressing stakeholders, Osanipin described the 25-year milestone as a celebration of resilience in Nigeria’s auto ecosystem.
Despite challenges, he said the industry has steadily evolved through purposeful government policies, increased private-sector participation, and the perseverance of innovators across the value chain.
Central to this progress, he noted, is the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP), which has helped dismantle structural barriers, attract investment, and create a coordinated framework for sector growth.
He called for the expeditious passage of the NAIDP bill into law, stressing that a solid legal framework is crucial for long-term stability and investor confidence.
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Osanipin outlined the industry’s achievements to date. More than 30 assembly plants now produce passenger cars, buses, and trucks locally, while indigenous brands such as Innoson, Jet Systems, and Nord Motors demonstrate the depth of Nigerian creativity.
NADDC, he added, has also trained over 30,000 automotive technicians nationwide—an investment in technical capacity crucial for sustaining industry expansion.
The Council is equally boosting industrial infrastructure. Material and component testing centres in Zaria and Enugu are nearing full operational readiness, while solar-powered Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations have been established to advance Nigeria’s steps toward clean and sustainable mobility.
Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Osanipin said the sector is primed for unprecedented growth. NADDC is pushing forward policies that position Nigeria as West Africa’s dominant automotive hub, including a comprehensive EV policy and support for widespread adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles.
He revealed ongoing collaboration with the Bank of Industry (BOI) and Credit Corp to develop affordable vehicle financing options—an initiative aimed at making locally assembled vehicles more accessible to individuals and businesses.
Osanipin commended the organisers of the Abuja International Motor Fair, led by Chairman Ifeanyi Agwu, for sustaining West Africa’s premier auto exhibition for a quarter of a century.
He urged Nigerians to support the growth of the sector by choosing locally assembled vehicles, stressing that every purchase creates jobs, builds skills, and strengthens the national economy.
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