The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has raised the alarm that Nigeria spends a staggering $1 billion each year on importing vehicle spare parts, including essential components like bumpers, tires, batteries, oil filters, and lights.
The NADDC said it has initiated efforts to enhance Nigeria’s technological capabilities in local vehicle component manufacturing in a bid to curtail the massive expenditure on vehicle spare part imports.
The Director-General of NADDC, Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, highlighted these concerns on Monday during the launch of a specialized engineering training in Abuja.
Addressing participants at the Midas NFX Automotive Software Design Skills bootcamp organized by the council, Osanipin emphasized the critical need for Nigeria to bolster its domestic production to reduce dependence on foreign vehicle components.
“The NADDC is training about 24 engineers on Midas software design, which has the capacity to scan and provide specifications for any vehicle component,” Osanipin told journalists.
“Our goal is to train up to 100 engineers from now until next year. This initiative is part of a larger strategy to lay the foundation for sustainable local production.”
The Midas software design training aims to equip Nigerian engineers with the technical expertise needed to develop high-quality vehicle components.
He added that with the ability to scan and specify the details of various automotive parts, engineers trained on the software will be better prepared to replicate or improve these parts locally.
Osanipin stressed that the reliance on imports for vehicle spare parts has significant economic implications, particularly in terms of foreign exchange reserves.
“Every year, Nigeria’s economy loses $1 billion to importing these components,” he noted. “By fostering local production, not only can we reduce this outflow but also create job opportunities, promote skill development, and drive industrial growth within the automotive sector.”
Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on Email: [email protected]
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE