Nigeria Spent 6.54 Trillion Naira on Auto Parts Imports Over Two Years, Says DG NADDC

By Theodore Opara

Nigeria’s reliance on imported vehicles and spare parts has risen sharply, with the country spending a total of N6.54 trillion on transport equipment and auto parts between 2023 and 2025, according to the Director‑General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Oluwemimo Osanipin.

Osanipin made the disclosure at the opening of the West African Automotive Summit in Lagos on Tuesday. He cautioned that the growing import bill presents a significant obstacle to the development of Nigeria’s local automotive industry and highlighted the urgent need to strengthen after‑sales services, local manufacturing capacity, and consumer confidence in locally assembled vehicles.

Using data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), he noted that Nigerians spent more than N4.3 trillion on vehicle imports during the period. Total imports of transport equipment and parts rose from N3.15 trillion in 2023 to N6.54 trillion in 2025, an increase of 107 percent over two years.

Speaking on the summit’s theme, “After‑Sales as a Growth Engine,” Osanipin emphasized that the future of Nigeria’s automotive sector depends not only on vehicle sales but also on the robustness of maintenance services, spare‑parts availability, technical support, warranties, and customer engagement.

He explained that successful automotive industries in other countries have built strong after‑sales ecosystems that support local manufacturing, create jobs, and boost consumer confidence.

According to Osanipin, improving after‑sales support is essential to advancing the federal government’s automotive development agenda and encouraging Nigerians to choose locally assembled vehicles.

He warned that inadequate after‑sales service discourages investment and erodes consumer trust, whereas efficient customer support can drive repeat purchases and expand market opportunities.

The director also highlighted the importance of ongoing training and capacity building for technicians and service personnel, especially as the industry gradually adopts electric and hybrid vehicle technologies.

The NADDC is working with stakeholders on skills‑acquisition programmes, technical training, and policy initiatives aimed at raising industry standards.

Osanipin urged automobile companies, dealers and service providers to invest more in customer‑support infrastructure and genuine spare‑parts distribution networks across the country.

He described the summit as a strategic platform for industry players to exchange ideas, forge partnerships, and explore opportunities for automotive growth throughout West Africa.

Participants at the event discussed strategies for strengthening local content development, improving vehicle maintenance culture, enhancing technical expertise, and promoting sustainable mobility solutions in Nigeria and the wider West African region.

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