The Federal Government has urged local vehicle assemblers to increase production, improve quality and strengthen after-sales services as part of efforts to promote domestic manufacturing under the Nigeria First Policy.
Speaking in Abuja, the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, said Nigeria’s vehicle assembly plants have an annual production capacity of 370,520 vehicles.
He said prioritising locally assembled vehicles in government procurement would create jobs, reduce dependence on imports and encourage domestic production of vehicle components.
Osanipin said all vehicles procured by ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), including utility vehicles for government projects, must be sourced exclusively from licensed local assemblers or their authorised retailers.
He added that government agencies would be required to demonstrate that no domestic alternative was available and obtain direct presidential approval before purchasing foreign-assembled vehicles.
According to him, every vehicle supplied to the government must have a traceable Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) verified by the NADDC.
He warned that suppliers who bypass licensed local assembly channels could face regulatory sanctions, including blacklisting and licence revocation.
The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) also warned vehicle assemblers that poor quality, inadequate after-sales support and violations of the policy would attract sanctions.
BPP Director-General Adebowale Adedokun urged manufacturers to invest in technology, quality control and maintenance services to support the development of a competitive domestic automotive industry.
