Auto
Purchase of 30-seater bus tears Innoson, NAN apart
There is a growing disagreement between local auto assembler, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited, and the News Agency of Nigeria over a 30-seater bus purchased by the latter from the former.
While NAN insists on the replacement of the bus which it considers faulty, Innoson says it will fix the fault.
The demand by NAN was made in a letter the agency despatched to Innoson even as it expressed regrets over the patronage of Made-in-Nigeria vehicles.
The letter dated January 16 and signed by the agency’s Principal Legal Officer, Mojirola Eniola, stated in part,
“Following the failure of your organisation to meet our demands for the evacuation and replacement of the faulty 30-seater bus (IVM6751) supplied to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) within seven (7) days of the receipt of our letter dated January 6, 2023, we have been left with no choice but to return the vehicle to your premises.”
NAN reports that this is the second time the agency would be rejecting the company’s vehicles due to either non-compliance with specifications or mechanical fault.
In line with the Buhari administration’s admonition to patronise local industries, the agency had some time in 2021 approached the motor vehicle plant to supply it with a 30-seater bus for its workers.
The agency had paid Innoson the sum of N49.5 million, including taxes, for the purchase of the bus on 17 November 2021.
Trouble, however, started when the company on November 16 2021, delivered the 30-seater bus said not to be in line with the specifications it reached with the agency.
The agency promptly rejected the bus and directed its solicitors to demand a replacement in line with the agreed specifications.
In its February 1, 2022 letter to Innoson through its solicitors, the agency demanded a replacement within 14 days or a face legal action.
Responding to the threat, Innoson in a letter dated February 14, 2022 apologised to NAN for the inconvenience it had caused the agency.
“We want to use this medium to apologise to your client (NAN) for any inconvenience that they may have experienced due to their complaint,” the letter signed by a director, Jonas Ojukwu, said.
Ojukwu, who in the letter claimed that his company does not sell refurbished vehicles, promised to replace the rejected vehicle.
“We will bring in a replacement brand new Innoson 30-seater bus to your client (News Agency of Nigeria) before the fourteen (14) days that you stated from the date of receipt of your letter and we shall retrieve the one supplied before now.
“We want to assure you that our business relationship will not be thwarted by any form of dissatisfaction for our desire is to serve our customers to the best of their satisfaction,” Ojukwu stated.
In spite of the assurances in Ojukwu’s correspondence, the replacement vehicle delivered to NAN on April 8, 2022 only worsened the agency’s transportation woes as it was dogged by successive mechanical faults.
Before the eventual evacuation of the vehicle to the Innoson Abuja office, the bus was said to have been lying idle on the agency’s premises for several months due to mechanical faults.
The agency’s Head of Technical Department, Aaron Miller, said the vehicle since delivery had been permanently grounded due to a faulty gearbox.
He said several appeals made to the Innoson Abuja office to evacuate the vehicle for repairs were ignored.
“We made several representations to them to repair this faulty gearbox all to no avail.
“On the three occasions their technicians showed up to ostensibly repair the vehicle, the problems persisted, causing embarrassment to the agency, ” he said.
Frustrated by the vehicle company’s noncommittal response in evacuating the vehicle, the agency issued another seven-day ultimatum to Innoson Abuja office in a letter dated 6 January.
This was to be followed by a final notice in a January 16 letter and the eventual towing of the faulty vehicle to the Abuja premises of Innoson on Tuesday after the company reneged on its pledge to evacuate the vehicle.
When a NAN correspondent contacted Ojukwu on phone, he said the bus would be repaired.
Auto
Changan CS55, Kia Seltos take top SUV honours at 2025 NAJA Auto Awards
Changan CS55, Kia Seltos take top SUV honours at 2025 NAJA Auto Awards
Changan CS55 and Kia Seltos have clinched top honours at the 2025 Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) International Auto Awards, winning Midsize SUV of the Year and Compact SUV of the Year, respectively.
The awards were announced at a recent well-attended ceremony held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, which brought together key stakeholders across Nigeria’s automotive value chain to celebrate excellence, resilience and innovation in the industry.
Changan CS55’s latest recognition comes after its impressive performance at last year’s 17th edition of the awards, where it was crowned Nigeria’s New Car of the Year.
At the 2025 ceremony, the compact crossover SUV edged out strong contenders such as the Kia Sonet and Chery Tiggo to secure the coveted Midsize SUV title.
Changan vehicles are marketed and assembled in Nigeria by Mikano Motors, reinforcing the growing impact of local assembly in the country’s automotive sector.
In the Compact SUV category, the Kia Seltos emerged winner, beating notable competitors such as the Toyota Prado, Changan CS55 and Chery Tiggo.
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Industry analysts have described the Seltos as a compelling blend of practicality and style, praising its bold design, versatility and appeal to modern drivers.
Other corporate winners at the event are the Mikano Group, which was named Auto Company of the Year; Iron Products Industries (IPI) Limited, honoured as Truck Assembler/Body Builder of the Year; Lanre Shittu Motors (JAC), awarded Truck Plant of the Year; and Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM), which won Passenger Car Assembly Plant of the Year.
These recognitions highlighted the depth and growing strength of indigenous participation in Nigeria’s automotive industry.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Otunba Joseph Osanipin, commended NAJA for sustaining a credible platform promoting excellence and accountability within the sector.
In his welcome address, NAJA Chairman Mr Theodore Opara described the awards as a benchmark for performance in Nigeria’s evolving automotive ecosystem, noting that the industry continues to adapt amid policy reforms, technological advancements and changing consumer expectations.
The 2025 NAJA International Auto Awards once again underscored the critical role of leading brands in strengthening Nigeria’s transportation and industrial backbone, while celebrating outstanding achievements across the nation’s automotive landscape.
Changan CS55, Kia Seltos take top SUV honours at 2025 NAJA Auto Awards
Auto
JIM-ISUZU, JéGO EV, Nord A9, New Era Win NAJA ‘New Entrants of the Year’
JIM-ISUZU, JéGO EV, Nord A9, New Era Win NAJA ‘New Entrants of the Year’
JIM-ISUZU Pick-Up, JéGO EV, Nord A9 and New Era Automobiles have been named New Entrants of the Year at the 2025 Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) International Auto Awards, underscoring the growing depth and competitiveness of Nigeria’s automotive market.
The awards were presented on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, during the 18th edition of the annual industry event.
JIM-ISUZU pickup emerged as a winner in the category, with its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Anselm Ilekuba, receiving the award on behalf of Cedric Autos Limited. Ilekuba, who also serves as National Coordinator of the Automotive Local Content Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (ALCMAN), thanked NAJA for the recognition, saying it would spur the company to deepen its commitment to quality and local industry growth.
The recognition of JéGO EV, Nord A9 and New Era Automobiles also reflects their successful entry into the Nigerian market, rising consumer acceptance and the promise they hold for the sector, particularly in the areas of innovation and alternative mobility solutions.
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Other major winners on the night included Jetour Dashing, which clinched Nigeria’s 2025 Car of the Year, defeating strong contenders such as Changan CS55 and Chery Tiggo.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class won Luxury Car of the Year, Range Rover Autobiography (Coscharis Motors) took Luxury SUV of the Year, while Toyota Hiace emerged Minibus of the Year.
On the corporate front, Mikano was named Auto Company of the Year, Toyota Nigeria’s Isolo facility won Workshop of the Year, and Dangote Sinotruk emerged Heavy-Duty Truck Brand of the Year.
Iron Products Industries (IPI) Limited clinched Truck Assembler/Body Builder of the Year, while Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) was recognised as Passenger Car Assembly Plant of the Year.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr Joseph Osanipin, commended NAJA for sustaining a credible platform that promotes professionalism, innovation and excellence in the automotive industry.
NAJA Chairman, Mr Theodore Opara, said the awards have remained one of the sector’s most respected benchmarks, noting that the initiative continues to evolve in line with rapid changes in vehicle technology, alternative energy solutions and consumer expectations.
The 2025 NAJA International Auto Awards once again reinforced its role as a key barometer for automotive excellence in Nigeria, with the emergence of JIM-ISUZU and other new brands signalling a vibrant and increasingly competitive market.
JIM-ISUZU, JéGO EV, Nord A9, New Era Win NAJA ‘New Entrants of the Year’
Auto
ANAMMCO, Stallion, RT Briscoe Honoured as Nigeria’s Most Resilient Auto Brands
ANAMMCO, Stallion, RT Briscoe Honoured as Nigeria’s Most Resilient Auto Brands
ANAMMCO Motors and Parts Ltd, Stallion Motors and R T Briscoe have been named Most Resilient Auto Brands of the Year at the 18th Nigeria Auto Journalists’ Association (NAJA) International Auto Awards, held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The recognition was announced at the well-attended ceremony that celebrated excellence, innovation and long-term impact across Nigeria’s automotive value chain.
NAJA said the three companies stood out for their consistency, adaptability and sustained contributions to the growth of the auto industry.
According to the association, the Resilient Auto Company of the Year category honours firms that have demonstrated institutional strength, commitment to local content development and unwavering support for Nigeria’s automotive ecosystem, even amid economic headwinds, policy shifts and changing market dynamics.
The endorsement of ANAMMCO, Stallion Motors and R T Briscoe underscores their ability to remain operationally relevant while contributing to local vehicle assembly, skills development and industrial capacity building over several decades.
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ANAMMCO Motors and Parts Limited is a leading vehicle manufacturing company with a broad portfolio spanning commercial vehicle production, third-party assembly, refurbishment, vehicle and spare parts sales, body building, workshop services, as well as training and consultancy.
Stallion Motors Limited, the automotive arm of the Stallion Group, is a major force in Nigeria’s auto sector, combining vehicle retail, after-sales support, parts distribution and local assembly. The company is the authorised distributor for several global brands, including Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Changan, Ashok Leyland, Morris Garages (MG) and Bajaj three-wheelers.
In addition to the resilience award, Stallion’s Sonu Singh was named Marketing/Media Manager of the Year at the ceremony.
R T Briscoe, one of Nigeria’s oldest auto companies, was recognised for pioneering structured vehicle sales, professional servicing and spare-parts support in the country.
At a time when vehicle imports were largely informal, the company introduced standardised dealerships, manufacturer-backed warranties and some of the best-equipped auto workshops in Nigeria.
In his welcome address, NAJA Chairman, Mr. Theodore Opara, described the awards as a benchmark for industry performance, noting that resilience has become a defining attribute in the face of global supply chain disruptions, energy transition pressures and ongoing policy reforms.
He added that award recipients emerged through a transparent and rigorous assessment process anchored on professionalism, industry relevance and measurable impact, stressing that despite prevailing economic challenges, Nigeria’s auto industry continues to demonstrate resilience, creativity and strategic adaptation.
ANAMMCO, Stallion, RT Briscoe Honoured as Nigeria’s Most Resilient Auto Brands
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