The House of Representatives Committee on Industry and the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) have called for legislative reforms to reposition Nigeria’s automotive industry  and promote the patronage of locally manufactured vehicles.

The call was made in Asaba, during a four-day capacity-building retreat organized for members of the House Committee on Industry and the management of NADDC.

The retreat, organised in collaboration with the African Parliamentary Resource Centre (APRC), was held under the theme, “Reflecting on the Journey So Far and Projecting into the Future of Nigeria’s Automotive Industry.”

Speaking at the event, the Director General of NADDC, Mr. Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, stressed that stronger legislative backing was necessary to create an enabling environment for the growth of Nigeria’s automotive sector.

Osanipin described the automotive industry as a strategic sector capable of driving industrialisation, creating jobs, promoting technology transfer and strengthening Nigeria’s economic development.

He said NADDC had made significant progress in expanding local vehicle assembly, supporting the transition to cleaner energy through Electric Vehicles and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), as well as improving technical training infrastructure across the country.

However, the Director-General noted that sustaining and expanding these achievements would require legislative interventions aligned with changing developments in the global automotive industry.

He emphasized the need for an updated legal framework, saying this would strengthen the Council’s capacity to effectively implement its mandate, support indigenous vehicle assemblers, attract investment and encourage greater patronage of vehicles manufactured in Nigeria.

Declaring the retreat open on behalf of the Chairman of the House Committee on Industry, Hon. Dr. Enitan Dolapo, Hon. Sa’ad Wada Taura reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to supporting the development of Nigeria’s automotive industry.

Taura said the retreat would provide the committee with practical insights into the challenges and opportunities within the sector, adding that a stronger automotive industry would contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economic growth.

He described the automotive sector as an important part of the Nigerian economy,  stressing the importance of developing appropriate policies and legislation to unlock its potential.

Also speaking, the Executive Director of the African Parliamentary Resource Centre, Hon. John Ebikeseye Mutu, said the retreat would enable lawmakers and NADDC management to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics of the automotive industry.

Mutu said the engagement would help stakeholders identify gaps in the existing framework and develop practical solutions to make the sector more efficient and effective.

He expressed optimism that the outcome of the retreat would contribute to policies that would encourage greater production and patronage of locally manufactured vehicles in Nigeria.