Nigeria Targets Automotive Transformation, Others to Drive Ind...

Nigeria has intensified efforts to reposition its economy through the mining and automotive sectors as part of a broader push to drive industrial transformation under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

At the heart of this push is a strategic alignment between the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP) and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. During a recent meeting in Abuja, the NCSP Director-General, Mr. Joseph Tegbe, and the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, discussed targeted interventions in key sectors to shift Nigeria from an import-reliant economy to a production-led industrial hub.

Senator Enoh reiterated the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to three key sectors—Sugar, Cotton-Textile-Garment (CTG), and Automobiles—all guided by dedicated industry councils. These efforts are anchored on the Nigeria First Policy, which mandates government agencies to prioritise local goods and services. This directive is already reshaping public procurement, stimulating local industries, and driving job creation.

In the automotive sector, the government is pursuing policies aimed at positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for vehicle assembly and advanced manufacturing. The national automotive policy under implementation is designed to shift production beyond basic assembly to integrated manufacturing that supports electric and energy-efficient mobility.

Mr. Tegbe stressed that the Nigeria-China partnership is critical to this transformation. He cited examples such as Brazil’s 2024 export success to China, noting Nigeria’s potential to replicate such milestones through focused investment in agriculture, solid minerals, and manufacturing. With over 40 commercially viable minerals, he said Nigeria must move from raw exports to developing processing and refining capacity, supported by regulatory reforms and investor incentives.

The Industrial Revolution Working Groups (IRWG), a core initiative of the Presidential Council on Industrial Revitalisation, are addressing regulatory barriers, improving infrastructure, and driving sustainable growth, particularly in the mining sector.

Strategic partnerships with Chinese firms—including Huawei, China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), Chilwee Group, and Choice International Group (CIG)—are bringing technology, capital, and skilled manpower to Nigeria’s automotive, mining, energy, and manufacturing sectors. These collaborations, Mr. Tegbe said, are central to enhancing local capacity, increasing industrial output, and advancing Nigeria’s position as an industrial player.

Through these initiatives, Nigeria is laying the foundation for a modern, competitive industrial economy—one driven by innovation, investment, and strategic global partnerships.