The Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Joseph Osanipin, has disclosed that Nigeria spent an estimated N6.54 trillion on importing spare parts in 2025. Speaking at the West Africa Automotive Show 2026 in Lagos earlier this week, Osanipin described the figure as a clear indicator that the country must urgently develop local manufacturing capacity. He noted that annual spending on spare parts now represents between 12 and 15 percent of Nigeria’s national budget.
Alarming Spending on Spare Parts
Osanipin stated: “In 2025 alone, Nigeria spent N6.54 trillion on spare parts. That figure is even more than what we spent bringing vehicles into the country over the past 10 years. What we spent on spare parts outside labour is equivalent to about five or six state budgets put together. What Nigeria spends annually on spare parts is more than the budgets of several African countries combined.” He emphasized that these figures highlight the need for investors to focus on component production, stressing that Nigeria cannot sustain its automotive industry without developing local manufacturing capacity.
Call for Local Manufacturing
The NADDC boss linked the push for local manufacturing to opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. He noted that countries with at least 40 percent local content in component production can export products across Africa duty-free. “If we fail to take advantage of this opportunity, countries like Togo, Ghana, Morocco, and South Africa can produce in large quantities and ship products into Nigeria duty-free. Then what happens to our industries and our graduates looking for jobs?” he asked.
Expansion of Training Manuals
Osanipin further disclosed that the council has expanded the number of approved automotive training manuals and standards from 17 to 32, with plans to increase them to 50 as part of efforts to strengthen technical capacity within the industry. “We want to certify technicians so their qualifications will be recognised across the industry. We are building capacity because this industry is about people, technicians, artisans, and families whose livelihoods depend on the sector,” he said.
Collaboration with ASPMDA
Also speaking, the President of the Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPMDA), Ngozi Emechebe, called for stronger collaboration between the Federal Government and ASPMDA to strengthen the automotive sector and support the association’s “Keep Nigeria Moving” vision. According to him, ASPMDA has evolved into a structured automotive trading hub capable of supporting industrial growth and partnerships with regulators and manufacturers. “ASPMDA is a highly organised trading association. We have moved from street trading, and now we have a beautiful, world-class premises,” he said.
Partnerships and Anti-Counterfeit Efforts
Emechebe disclosed that discussions are already ongoing with NADDC on areas of partnership aimed at boosting local automotive development and improving support for spare parts dealers and local manufacturers. “We need government support and partnership. We have a part to play in Nigeria’s automotive development agenda,” he said. On counterfeit products, the ASPMDA President said the association is intensifying efforts to sanitise the market through stricter regulations and collaboration with relevant agencies. He revealed that office spaces have already been provided within ASPMDA’s premises for regulatory authorities responsible for monitoring counterfeit products and enforcing standards. “We want to make it a cultural matter so that when you violate it, you know where you are headed. If you bring in your product, defend it to the end consumer and stand by it. Adulteration is not allowed,” he stated.
Support for Local Production
Emechebe also backed increased local production of automotive components, arguing that Nigerian-made products can compete effectively if built to standards suited to local conditions. “Local production is even better than foreign production. Whatever you want from a person, you must give it a standard Nigerians will see and buy — standards that fit Nigeria,” he added. He disclosed that some ASPMDA members are already involved in local production of automotive parts, while broader manufacturing partnerships may be explored in the future. The West Africa Automotive Show brought together regulators, manufacturers, dealers, and other automotive stakeholders to discuss challenges and opportunities across West Africa.
