Stakeholders demand urgent passage of NAIDP Bill to revive Nigeria’s auto industry

Stakeholders demand urgent passage of NAIDP Bill to revive Nigeria’s auto industry

 

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s automotive sector have renewed calls for the urgent passage of the Nigeria Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) Bill, warning that continued delay is stalling investment and threatening the survival of local auto assembly plants.

The call was made during a forum organised by the Auto Sub-Sectoral Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), themed “The Impact of Non-Passage of the NAIDP Into Law on the Automotive Industry.”

Delivering the keynote address, the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Otunba Joseph Oluwemimo Osanipin, commended President Bola Tinubu for prioritising industrial development, but expressed deep concern over the prolonged delay in legislating the NAIDP.

“The NAIDP has been our strategic roadmap for transforming Nigeria’s automotive industry. But the inability of lawmakers to pass the bill into law continues to discourage Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) from investing in local assembly operations,” Osanipin said.

He highlighted the Council’s achievements so far — including the establishment of 18 auto training centres and the training of over 30,000 technicians — but warned that lack of a legal framework is allowing uncontrolled importation of used vehicles and denying the industry much-needed credit schemes.

“Without the backing of law, no investor wants to commit capital into a sector that offers no guarantees or protection,” he added.

Echoing similar concerns, Chief Anselm Ilekuba, National Coordinator of the Automotive Local Content Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (ALCMAN), described the auto industry as a crucial pillar for economic diversification, job creation, and technological advancement.

He criticised the policy vacuum as a deterrent to both local and foreign investment and urged legislators to act swiftly. “Stakeholders must continue to push for the passage of this bill. Once that happens, we can unlock the industry’s full potential,” he said.

Also speaking at the forum, President and Chairman of Council of the LCCI, Gabriel Idahosa, called for lkķkpa holistic review of automotive policies and advocated for a balanced tariff structure that supports local production while protecting consumer interest.

“Failure to act will only worsen unemployment and weaken Nigeria’s industrial base,” he warned.

Chairman of the Automobile and Allied Services Group of LCCI, Femi Eguaikhide, noted that with the right legislation and investment incentives, Nigeria’s auto sector could become a significant foreign exchange earner.

“This symposium is not just about challenges — it’s about finding solutions and developing a strategy to boost local manufacturing,” he added.

Private sector stakeholders also weighed in. Syam Abdulkadir, National Operations Manager of Mikano Motors, described the absence of legislation as the sector’s “biggest obstacle,” while Otunba Adekunle Jaiyesimi, Deputy Managing Director of CFAO Mobility Nigeria Ltd, called attention to currency fluctuations and the need for vehicle financing options similar to what exists in neighbouring countries.

Representing the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Assistant Comptroller Limai Oluwakemi reiterated the agency’s commitment to promoting local content and enforcing the Federal Government’s “Nigeria First” policy through enhanced inter-agency collaboration.

The summit concluded with a unified message: the passage of the NAIDP Bill is not just an industry need but a national imperative for economic growth, job creation, and technological progress.