The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has highlighted its various initiatives to revolutionise the Nigerian automotive industry.
The Director-General of NADDC, Mr Joseph Osanipin, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
NAN reports that Osanipin, appointed in October 2023, wasted no time implementing strategies designed to bolster the sector and drive economic growth.
Osanipin said the council had focused on enhancing the component parts sector, which was crucial for both Semi-Knockdown (SKD) and Complete Knockdown (CKD) vehicle production.
According to the director-general, the parts are the building blocks of our automotive industry.
‘A typical vehicle like a passenger car has more than 3,000 parts. The hose that can take fuel is a part, the nut, oil filter, fuel filter are all parts.
‘So some of these things are what we are looking at to put more effort in making sure that these things are produced in Nigeria.
‘By doing so, we are increasing
the technical know-how of our people, we are creating jobs for our people, we are increasing and improving the economy in the auto industry and as well increasing the component part,’ he said.
According to him, this initiative is also strategically aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, ensuring Nigeria’s automotive parts are recognised under the Rules of Origin.
Osanipin said it prevented other West African countries from dominating this market share.
He said it was another significant initiative involved in promoting the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles.
He recalled the Federal Government’s directive to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to purchase CNG vehicles, specifically those assembled or manufactured in Nigeria.
The director-general said NADDC was working closely with relevant stakeholders to implement this directive effectively.
‘So we also engaged our people here in Nigeria because we licensed these assemblers, we gave them the lice
nce to operate anywhere here in Nigeria.
‘We are working with other agencies to put in place the necessary standard. We work with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
‘And SON has released more than 50 standards to guide the conversion process or production of CNG vehicles
Recognising the importance of skilled manpower, Osanipin said the council developed the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for CNG and Electric Vehicles (EVs) training.
He said the validation process for the NOS, which would serve as the curriculum for training programmes, had been completed and submitted to the National Automotive Testing and Education (NATE) for approval.
Osanipin expressed optimism that the process would certify and enhance the skills of individuals in the automotive sector and further support the industry’s growth.
The NADDC boss also reiterated his commitment to advancing Nigeria’s automotive industry and ensuring its sustainability and competitiveness on a continental scale.
‘Our efforts are geared t
owards creating a robust automotive sector that can compete globally while providing economic opportunities for Nigerians,’ he said.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria