In the last couple of years, the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has intensified its efforts to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported vehicle components, a practice that costs the country over $1 billion annually.
The NADDC Director-General Joseph Osanipin stated this on Monday during the Midas NFX Software Automotive Design Skills Boot Camp held in Abuja.
Oanipin who decried the fact that the country spends over one billion dollars each year on imported spare parts, emphasized the urgent need for local production capabilities.
According to him, “The country spends over one billion dollars annually on imported spare parts. This massive expenditure underscores the necessity of developing advanced design and manufacturing skills locally to stimulate economic growth and reduce reliance on imports.”
However, industry analysts have continued to fault NADDC’s approach, saying the way and manner the national agency has continued to avoid working in synergy with Auto Spare Parts & Machinery Dealers Association (ASPMDA), the largest vehicle spare parts market in Africa has continued to draw back expected progress in the policy trust of reducing auto parts imports.
Currently, many traders at ASPMDA have ventured into manufacturing of several auto spare parts thus, gorwing local contents and reversing the import trends, but without any form of government support, a responsibility the NADDC should have championed.
No doubt, the get a better result, NADDC should incorporate ASPMDA in its boot camp, which focuses on training engineers and designers using Midas NFX software.
Checks by Business Hilights show that NADDC has not contacted or made any kind of efforts to visit or talk with officials of ASPMDA on how to grow local content in auto spare parts.
This advanced tool facilitates the design and simulation of automotive components, enabling users to optimize material selection and meet precise manufacturing requirements.
According to Osanipin, the software represents a key step in modernizing Nigeria’s automotive manufacturing landscape.
The initiative aims to train 100 engineers over the next year, equipping them with critical skills that bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.
“The training is not limited to NADDC staff but is also open to private sector participants who may lack access to such advanced resources,” he said.
“The only way we can bridge this gap is through knowledge. By fostering innovation within the industry, we not only enhance local expertise but also pave the way for producing quality spare parts locally, ultimately saving foreign exchange,” he added.
