26th Abuja Int’l Motor Fair Begins As NADDC Restates Commitment To Building Self – Sustaining Local Automotive Industry

To enhance national economic development, the Federal Government has promised to partner other African countries in the growth of Nigeria’s automotive industry

The Minster of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole made the promise while declaring open the 26th Abuja International Motor Fair holding in Abuja organized by the National Automotive Design and Development Council, NADDC in collaboration with a Private Organization.

Dr Jumoke Oduwole described the nation’s automotive industry as key towards actualizing the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s led administration in the area Nigeria First Policy.

While commending NADDC for the forum on the annual motor fair, Dr. Oduwole called for more investment in Nigeria’s automotive sector towards boosting the country’s GDP

Earlier, the Director General, National Automotive Design and Development Council, NADDC, Mr Oluwemimo Osanipin reiterated the commitment of the Council towards repositioning the nation’s automotive industry for better.

According to Mr Oluwemimo Osanipin, NADDC has put in place various modalities that would enable Nigeria’s automotive industry contribute to national economic development.

The Director General of NADDC therefore advised Nigerians to develop keen interest in the patronage of Made in Nigeria’s vehicles adding that the nation’s Automotive Policy would soon be reviewed to further enhance the growth of the sector

“For over two decades, this fair has served as the heart of West Africa’s automotive conversation—a living space where innovation meets policy, where engineering meets enterprise, and where Nigeria’s industrial future is put on full display right here at Eagle Square and standing here today, one cannot help but reflect on the breathtaking evolution of the global automotive landscape” He said

In his words “Today, the quiet whisper of an Electric Vehicle—the complete silence of an EV drivetrain—can unleash that exact same power, that exact same speed, and extraordinary performance, all without a single drop of fuel or a pu of emission and not so long ago, these technologies belonged to futuristic magazines, concept showcases, or sci-fi screens watched from afar. They were luxuries reserved for distant markets, out of reach for the everyday Nigerian”.

“What was once only seen through a TV screen is now brought right here, closer to home, onto Nigerian soil—for Nigerians to touch, to test, to feel, and to own and this transformation is the very essence of why the National Automotive Design and Development Council exists. Building a vibrant, self-sustaining local automotive industry is not an abstract economic goal” .

Mr Oluwemimo Osanipin said the NADDC is building an industry where modern, reliable, and clean vehicles are assembled by Nigerians, for Nigerians.

“Every vehicle parked on this floor today represents a potential for local craftsmanship, skilled youth, domestic capacity, and economic empowerment and when a mass transit bus, a CNG-powered commercial van, or an electric car rolls o an assembly line in Lagos, Nnewi, or Kaduna, it creates direct jobs for our technicians, engineers, and spare parts manufacturers”.

” More importantly, it directly impacts the lives of ordinary citizens by driving down transport costs, increasing safety, and keeping our economy moving and this event is organized for you—the Nigerian, the fleet operator, the small business owner, the commuter, and the aspiring entrepreneur”.

He said the vehicles showcased across the grounds represent the absolute best of what our industry has to o er: modern engineering tailored to our roads, our climate, and our economic realities.

“As you walk through these displays over the next four days, do not just look at machines. Look at the future of Nigerian industrialization. Look at our commitment to alternative energy, local component development, technical training, and sustainable mobility.
Together, through public policy, private enterprise, and local patronage, we are steering Nigeria toward an auto industry that belongs to us, works for us, and builds prosperity for generations to come” the NADDC Boss added