NADDC Seeks Legal Support To Boost Nigeria’s Automotive Sector

The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has urged the National Assembly to give legal backing to the Nigeria Automotive Industry Development Plan, NAIDP, to attract investment, protect local capacity, and strengthen the country’s automotive sector.

Director-General of NADDC, Joseph Osanipin, made the appeal during a capacity-building workshop for the House of Representatives Press Corps in Abuja, warning that trillions of naira spent annually on vehicle and spare parts imports will continue unless the sector receives firm legislative support.

“The workshop, organized by NADDC in collaboration with the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, focused on strengthening sectoral policy communication and legislative reporting on Nigeria’s automotive industry development as the country seeks to expand local production and reform the sector.”

“While the NAIDP provides strategic direction, sustainable industrial growth requires statutory protection,” Osanipin said.

He added that manufacturers considering large-scale investment in vehicle assembly and component production needs assurance that fiscal incentives and regulatory frameworks will endure over the long term.

Osanipin highlighted progress in local innovation, including tricycles designed with locally sourced materials and expanded capacity in compressed natural gas, CNG vehicle assembly.

He said the council has trained more than 15,000 technicians nationwide to ensure after-sales support and technical sustainability.

He urged journalists covering legislative and economic matters to contextualize policy decisions within the broader industrial framework, noting that the sector supports industrial diversification, job creation, technology transfer, and foreign exchange conservation.

On his part, Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Akintunde Rotimi, said the training is part of broader institutional reforms aimed at improving legislative reporting and enhancing democratic accountability.

Also speaking Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, FCT Council, Grace Ike, and Chairman of the House of Representatives Press Corps, Gboyega Onadiran, called for stronger national commitment to locally assembled vehicles, warning that reliance on imports strains foreign exchange reserves and domestic value chains.

They encouraged reporters to deepen policy-focused coverage of the automotive sector, emphasizing that informed journalism is essential for attracting investment and promoting accountability.

Experts in the automotive industry recommended adequate funding for NADDC, robust oversight of policy enforcement, and legislation supporting CNG adoption with incentives and clear safety standards to encourage greener transport solutions.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji