Nigeria must urgently transition from an import-dependent auto industry to a robust ‘auto economy’ that stimulates local production, innovation, and job creation, says Professor Oscar Odiboh, automotive consultant and lecturer at Delta State University, Abraka.

Speaking at the Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU) in Lagos, organised by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association, Odiboh challenged the federal government and stakeholders to embrace a sweeping local content agenda under the “Nigeria First” framework.

Driving Industrialisation Through Local Content

Odiboh urged Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to source more of their raw materials, services, and workforce from within Nigeria, arguing that this would promote economic growth and create sustainable jobs.

“Nigerian OEMs must begin to prioritise local value chain contributors over imports,” he said. “We must dismantle unfair external advantages and promote healthy local competition and co-creation.”

Phasing Out Import Dependency

He proposed a gradual phase-out of Completely Knocked Down (CKD) and Semi-Knocked Down (SKD) imports to deepen backward integration. Odiboh also called on the Nigerian Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) to enforce originality in the design and engineering of Nigerian-made vehicles.

He highlighted roles for other key agencies like the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to implement and enforce local content and quality standards.

Changing Mindsets and Building Skills

Odiboh called on the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to promote a nationwide campaign encouraging citizens and institutions to patronise Nigerian-made vehicles.

He also proposed a collaboration between the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), technical institutions, and OEMs to develop a skilled automotive workforce through specialised training and internships.

Proposing a National Automotive Economy Agency

To drive the agenda, Odiboh renewed his call for President Bola Tinubu to establish the National Automotive Economy Agency (NAEA), to be seeded with $5 billion and a 25-year profit gestation plan.

“Let’s stop calling it the auto industry. It’s time to refer to it as the auto economy, and every stakeholder should henceforth be regarded as an automotive investor,” he asserted.