Nigeria Spent N6.54 Trillion on Auto‑Parts Imports Over Two Years, Says DG NADDC

By Theodore Opara

The Director‑General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Oluwemimo Osanipin, revealed that Nigeria spent N6.54 trillion on transport equipment and auto parts from 2023 to 2025, reflecting a sharp rise in dependence on imported vehicles and spare parts.

He made the announcement on Tuesday during the opening ceremony of the West African Automotive Summit in Lagos, cautioning that the escalating import costs threaten the development of Nigeria’s domestic automotive sector and highlighting the need to bolster after‑sales services, local manufacturing capacity, and consumer confidence in locally assembled vehicles.

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

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

He explained that successful automotive markets have developed strong after‑sales ecosystems that support local manufacturing, generate employment, and enhance consumer confidence.

He said that enhancing after‑sales support is essential