Compiled By: Malami Haruna Dogondaji
15 OCTOBER, 2026
The Federal Government is directing its support and priority toward vehicle assemblers that actively expand local production capacity, increase domestic content utilization, and reinvest their profits within the country under the strategic Nigeria First Policy.
Prioritizing Local Value Addition
Speaking as a guest on NTA’s flagship current affairs program, Good Morning Nigeria, the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, detailed the ongoing implementation of the administration’s industrial roadmap.
Osanipin emphasized that the core philosophy of the Nigeria First Policy shifts the paradigm away from mere importation and superficial assembly, rewarding instead those automotive stakeholders who demonstrate genuine commitment to domestic industrialization. By expanding assembly lines, deepening local component sourcing, and plowing back returns into the Nigerian economy, auto assemblers stand to gain strategic government backing.
“Government gives priorities to vehicle assemblers that expand production capacity, increases local content and reinvests profits under the Nigeria First Policy.” — Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin
Driving Industrial Sovereignty
The NADDC chief’s insights on Good Morning Nigeria underscore a broader national push to reduce reliance on fully built foreign vehicle imports and bolster domestic manufacturing capabilities. Key elements of this strategy include:
- Capacity Expansion: Encouraging registered assemblers to scale up their factory outputs to meet domestic and regional demands.
- Deepening Local Content: Partnering with local component manufacturers to source raw materials and vehicle parts within Nigeria.
- Sustainable Reinvestment: Ensuring that profits generated within the Nigerian market contribute directly to long-term infrastructure and skills development.
Fast Facts: Nigeria First Policy & Automotive Development
- Key Spokesperson: Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, Director-General, NADDC.
- Platform: Good Morning Nigeria (Nigerian Television Authority – NTA).
- Core Focus: Updating the public on the implementation of the Nigeria First Policy in the automotive sector.
- Primary Objective: Prioritizing vehicle assemblers that expand local production, increase local content, and reinvest profits.
The Social Call-to-Action (CTA)
How can local manufacturing policies be further strengthened to make locally assembled vehicles more accessible to everyday Nigerians? Share your thoughts on NTA’s digital platforms below.
