Business and Economy
NADDC Calls for End to Importation of Vehicle Tyres, Batteries as Agency Holds Stakeholders’ Sensitization Workshop
The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has called for an end to the importation of vehicle tyres and batteries into Nigeria as part of efforts to deepen local content development and boost the nation’s economy.
The Director-General of NADDC, Mr. Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, made the call in Abuja during a one-day Sensitization Workshop for Stakeholders in the Nigerian Tyre and Battery Industries.
Mr. Osanipin disclosed that, according to a recent survey, Nigeria spent over one trillion naira on the importation of tyres last year. He said this underscores the urgent need to halt the importation of tyres and batteries and instead encourage local manufacturing in order to increase the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and fast-track economic development.
He explained that the sensitization workshop was designed, among other objectives, to build on the outcomes of the 2018 Tyre Conference, which identified the urgent need to revitalize the industry. According to him, the tyre and battery sectors currently face unique challenges, including raw material sourcing, product certification, and mandatory end-of-life recycling.
“The workshop also aims to provide a comprehensive platform for discussions on local content and NAIDP-2023, focusing on implementation strategies for backward integration in tyre, lead-acid, and lithium-ion battery components, quality assurance and compliance, as well as educating stakeholders on the latest standards, including tyre age limits and battery performance benchmarks,” he said.
Mr. Osanipin further outlined other key focus areas of the workshop to include New Energy Vehicle (NEV) technology, detailing requirements for managing high-voltage lithium-ion batteries, including safe handling and charging procedures; sustainability, clarifying roles within the End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) framework for responsible collection and recycling of waste tyres and batteries; and regulatory dialogue, providing a direct platform for manufacturers and importers to highlight industry-specific challenges and regulatory bottlenecks.
Reaffirming NADDC’s commitment to promoting the patronage of made-in-Nigeria tyres and batteries, Mr. Osanipin expressed optimism that the workshop would strengthen the implementation of the Nigeria First Policy of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
In a goodwill message, the Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, described tyres as life-threatening products if substandard and commended NADDC for sensitizing stakeholders on the need to stop their importation. Dr. Okeke, who was represented by Mr. Pankes Clement, Assistant Director and Group Head, Chemical Technology at SON, assured that the organisation would continue to collaborate with NADDC to ensure strict adherence to standards in tyre manufacturing in the country.
Also delivering a goodwill message, the Chairman of the Nigeria Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA), Mr. Bawo Omagbitse, commended NADDC for the initiative and stressed the need to deliberately create a viable tyre market in Nigeria, considering its significant economic benefits. He noted that stopping the importation of tyres and batteries would enhance local content and stimulate growth in the nation’s automotive industry.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Motorcycle Association of Nigeria, Reverend Lambert Ekewuba, called for more sensitization workshops to encourage increased patronage of made-in-Nigeria products, particularly within the automotive sector. He pledged the association’s continued support for NADDC in achieving its mandate of developing Nigeria’s automotive industry.
The one-day sensitization workshop featured lectures and paper presentations by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other key stakeholders. It also attracted goodwill messages from representatives of the Bank of Industry (BOI), NEXIM Bank, and other major partners.
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