ABUJA – Nigeria is steering towards a major industrial transformation, with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) announcing comprehensive plans to develop a skilled workforce for electric and alternative fuel vehicles while pushing for an Auto Industry Act to secure long-term investment.
Joseph Osanipin, Director-General of the NADDC, detailed the ambitious roadmap in a media briefing on Tuesday, declaring 2026 a “pivotal year” for the sector’s evolution under the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP).
Building a Homegrown Technical Workforce
A cornerstone of the strategy is massive investment in human capital. The Council has launched extensive training programs on Electric Vehicle (EV) technology, vehicle conversion, and alternative fuel systems for both regulators and industry technicians.
“Capacity building is one of the major pillars of the NAIDP. We have carried out training on vehicle conversion from PMS and diesel to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), as well as on electric vehicles,” Osanipin stated.
To standardize expertise, the NADDC has developed National Occupational Standards for EV maintenance and CNG retrofitting. Structured certification programs based on these standards are expected to commence by 2026, creating a formalized career path for technicians in the green automotive economy.
Bridging Academia and Industry for Local Innovation
The Council is actively fostering collaboration between universities and the private sector to ensure education aligns with market needs. Osanipin highlighted notable progress in local vehicle design, with Nigerian engineers and students developing prototypes for tricycles, buses, and electric campus shuttle buses in partnership with 12 universities.
“We want what is taught in our institutions to reflect industry realities. Producing even a few world-class auto engineers locally will have a significant impact on the economy,” he emphasized.
The Real Prize: Local Component Manufacturing
Moving beyond assembly, Osanipin identified component manufacturing as the sector’s true value driver. He revealed a critical insight: Nigeria spends more annually importing vehicle parts—like tyres, brake pads, filters, and batteries—than it does on importing fully-built vehicles.
To capture this value, the NADDC is engaging stakeholders to dismantle infrastructure, financing, and policy barriers facing local component producers. This push is particularly strategic as Nigeria positions itself to become a regional automotive hub under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Seeking Legislative Backing for Long-Term Growth
To provide irreversible policy stability and attract large-scale investments, Osanipin announced a crucial legislative initiative. The Council plans to transform the NAIDP from a policy document into a formal Auto Industry Act.
“Investment in the auto sector is huge. They will need an Act,” he stated, noting that a draft bill would soon be presented to the National Assembly for consideration.
Acknowledging that such transformative reforms often face resistance, Osanipin appealed to the media for partnership in public education. “When the pushback comes, we need you to explain to Nigerians what we are trying to do and why,” he said.
With these interconnected plans for skills development, local production, and legislative fortification, Nigeria’s automotive industry is shifting gears, aiming for a future built on cleaner technology and self-reliant industrial capacity.
