Nigeria First: Auto industry leaders, others push for bold local content towards economic revival

Nigeria First: Auto industry leaders, others push for bold local content towards economic revival

The call for renewed commitment to local content development took the centre stage at the second edition of the Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU), held in Lagos on Thursday.

Organised by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) in collaboration with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), the summit brought together key players from government, regulatory bodies, manufacturing, finance, and development sectors.

It was held under the theme ‘Nigeria First: Local Content as Catalyst for Automotive Economy’ with the collective goal of ensuring a sustainable transformation of Nigeria’s automotive industry through localisation.

NAJA Chairman, Mr. Theodore Opara, set the agenda with a rallying cry: “If Nigeria must industrialize, the auto sector must lead. If the auto sector must thrive, local content must be the engine.”

He decried the industry’s heavy dependence on imported vehicles and parts such as tyres, batteries, and brake pads—despite Nigeria’s abundant natural resources and capable workforce.

The real hurdle, he argued, was not technical capacity but a lack of will power, coordination, and policy clarity.

Opara urged all stakeholders—OEMs, regulators, financiers, and consumers—to “Buy Nigeria, Drive Nigeria, Trust Nigeria,” underlining NAJA’s ongoing efforts through initiatives like the NAISU, NAJA Training Workshop, and NAJA Awards.

NADDC Director General, Mr. Joseph Osanipin, reinforced the urgency, calling local content not just an option but a strategic necessity.

He highlighted NADDC’s ongoing initiatives in production incentives, skills development, and R&D support—designed to anchor a resilient, locally driven automotive ecosystem.

“Local content is the engine that will drive economic transformation,” Osanipin said.

Assistant Corps Marshal Ann Oladayo, representing FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed, linked automotive policy to public safety.

She emphasized that as Nigeria localizes production, adherence to safety and environmental standards must remain paramount.

“Road safety, automotive standards, and local content are deeply interwoven,” she stated, affirming FRSC’s commitment to shaping policies that foster safe and ethical manufacturing.

In her keynote address, Ms. Victoria Backhaus-Jerling, CEO of the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM), stressed the importance of policy stability. She called for the legalisation of Nigeria’s automotive policy to attract investment, ensure consistency, and shield the market from substandard imports and used vehicle dumping.

“Without a legal framework, Nigeria risks falling behind countries like South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, and Ghana,” she warned. “Africa is the world’s last automotive frontier—and Nigeria is pivotal to its future.”

Backhaus-Jerling reaffirmed AAAM’s commitment to working with governments across Africa to align policies and strengthen cross-border value chains under the AfCFTA framework.

• Across multiple panels and presentations, consensus emerged on several urgent priorities:
• Fast-track legislation of the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP)
• Clear transition from SKD (semi-knocked down) to CKD (completely knocked down) assembly
• Incentives for local investors and financing solutions for consumers
• Enforcement of quality standards to curb substandard imports
• Consumer education to increase acceptance of made-in-Nigeria vehicles and parts

As the summit wrapped up, the tone was one of cautious optimism as stakeholders agreed that success would depend on measurable outcomes, legislative backing, and continuous collaboration.

A communiqué summarising the summit’s resolutions was read, which will be sent to the Presidency, National Assembly, and key MDAs.

“Let’s leave not with just communiqués and handshakes,” said Opara. “Let’s leave with commitments and partnerships to make ‘Nigeria First’ a true national strategy for economic transformation.”