Mr. Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), voiced concerns over Nigeria’s heavy reliance on vehicle imports, stressing that sustained importation hinders the country’s economic development.
At the maiden Nigeria Auto Industry Summit in Lagos, Osanipin highlighted that Nigeria spent N1.47 trillion on importing passenger cars in 2023 alone, marking a significant increase from previous years according to National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data. He added that many countries leverage their automotive sectors to drive economic growth, contrasting Nigeria’s import-focused approach with Morocco’s successful export growth following the implementation of its National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP).
Osanipin emphasized the need for Nigeria to transition from Semi-Knocked Down (SKD) to higher-value manufacturing processes like Complete Knocked Down (CKD) or Fully Built Units (FBUs). He warned of the consequences of continued dependency on imported vehicles and advocated for a future where Nigeria not only consumes but also produces high-quality automobiles to align with national economic agendas.
Highlighting the economic benefits seen in other nations such as South Africa and Morocco, Osanipin urged stakeholders to collaborate in transforming Nigeria into a significant player in global automotive production. He called for increased local content in automotive manufacturing, citing examples like tricycles where Nigeria should achieve up to 90% local content.
In support of industry development, Osanipin outlined initiatives by NADDC, including the Nigerian automotive industrial development plan aimed at attracting investment, developing local content, and creating employment opportunities.