Nigeria Targets $1bn Savings with Push for Local Vehicle Parts Production 

Samuel Mobolaji

The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has stepped up its efforts to curb Nigeria’s reliance on imported vehicle parts, which costs the country over $1 billion annually.

NADDC Director-General, Joseph Osanipin, highlighted this concern during the Midas NFX Software Automotive Design Skills Boot Camp in Abuja, stressing the critical need to build local production capabilities to reduce foreign expenditure.

Osanipin noted that the country’s yearly import bill for vehicle components underlines the urgency for advanced design and manufacturing skills.

The boot camp, organised by NADDC, is training engineers and designers on Midas NFX software, a powerful tool for designing and simulating automotive parts.

This training is intended to modernise Nigeria’s automotive manufacturing landscape by equipping 100 engineers over the next year with the skills to optimise material selection and meet specific manufacturing standards.

Open to both NADDC staff and private sector participants, the training programme seeks to bridge the knowledge gap and foster local innovation.

Osanipin believes that by enhancing local expertise, Nigeria can begin producing quality spare parts domestically, saving foreign exchange and reducing reliance on imports.

The NADDC director-general emphasised the untapped potential for local production in areas such as batteries, brake pads, and filters. While the local production of lubricants has progressed, other parts remain ripe for local manufacturing, a move that could drive job creation and self-sufficiency within the country.

He noted that the automotive aftermarket offers significant economic opportunity, and training programmes like this are vital for leveraging that potential.

The current training cohort of 24 participants will be the first to undergo this programme, with plans for future expansion.

 At the event, Dr Abdullawal Zubair, Managing Director of FAZSAL Nigeria Limited, applauded the NADDC’s provision of advanced tools such as 3D scanners and printers.

He urged participants to make the most of this opportunity to elevate their skills, benefiting both the industry and their professional growth.

This initiative is set to lay the groundwork for a self-reliant Nigerian automotive industry, aiming to position the country competitively in the global market.