The Africa Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) has called for the legislation of the 2023 Nigeria Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP).

The group said this would enhance the rapid development of the industry.

The call was made during a tour of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) Company and Afro Asia Nigeria Ltd.

Speaking during the tour, the Chief Executive Officer of AAAM, David Coffey, emphasised the association’s mission to industrialize and expand Africa’s automotive sector through policy development, collaborative efforts and promoting affordable mobility.

Coffey expressed concern over Africa becoming a dumping ground for used vehicles and called for significant changes to address the issue.

He, however, acknowledged Nigeria’s potential in manufacturing but noted that lack of demand remains a significant obstacle.

The leader of the delegation and the Director-General, the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Joseph Osanipin, applauded IVM for its innovative approach and expressed a strong interest in replicating Innoson’s model to boost local manufacturing capabilities across Nigeria.

At Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company, the spotlight was on their impressive achievement in producing CNG buses from scratch using entirely local materials.

Innoson’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, advocated for the adoption of CNG as a more cost-effective alternative to traditional fuels.

He urged the Nigerian government to support the transition to mitigate the economic burden of high premium motor spirit (PMS) costs.

The tour continued with a visit to Afro Asia Nigeria Limited, where the Chief Executive Officer, Dr A.C. Okafor, showcased various manufacturing processes, from recycling plastics to producing finished products.

Indeed, the visit underscored the importance of promoting Nigeria’s automotive industry, fostering local manufacturing, and embracing affordable, sustainable fuel sources to drive economic growth and development.