The Federal Government, through the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), has announced plans to begin local manufacturing of 10 essential vehicle spare parts, a move aimed at reducing Nigeria’s annual $1 billion import bill for spare parts.
Joseph Osanipin, NADDC Director General, disclosed the initiative during a two-week training session for auto engineers and software automotive design in Abuja. The training, which focused on the Midas NFX software for automotive design, was organized in collaboration with South Korea’s Midas IT Co. and trained 15 participants.
Represented by Fidelis Achiv, Director of the Directorate of Research, Design, and Development, Osanipin emphasized that the council was prepared to begin production for the over 11 million vehicles currently operating on Nigerian roads.
“We are working towards assembling vehicles with up to 40% locally manufactured components, up from the less than one percent we currently have,” Osanipin said. “At present, vehicle assembly in Nigeria adds minimal value to the economy, as vehicles are imported fully built, then disassembled and reassembled here.
We aim to transform this process—vehicles will come unpainted, with parts welded here, and components produced locally. This shift will create jobs and contribute more to the economy.”
Osanipin highlighted that Nigeria could potentially dominate the global market if it successfully manufactures even 10 essential vehicle parts. “With over 3,000 parts in a vehicle, if we can focus on producing just 10 and ensure they are of the highest quality, Nigeria’s market share will expand, and the economy will benefit significantly.”
He emphasized the importance of training engineers to design and produce these critical spare parts, ensuring Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in the automotive sector.
Abdul-Lawal Zubair, Managing Director of FAZSAL Nigeria Limited, urged the participants to leverage their new skills to drive innovation in the industry. “You have gained both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. Use this opportunity to create solutions. Let the software guide you to innovate, and possibly take your expertise to South Korea for advanced training,” he said.
Lukman, one of the trainees, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, noting how the training has expanded his creativity. “Midas NFX is unique in its ability to model and analyze, making it an invaluable tool for automotive design,” he said. “This training has broadened my thinking and will help me apply innovative solutions to local production challenges.”
The NADDC’s initiative reflects a strategic push to enhance local manufacturing capabilities, reduce dependency on imports, and strengthen the Nigerian automotive sector.
