The Professional Platform of the Auto Dealers’ Association of Nigeria, an umbrella body of automotive dealers in Nigeria, has said that the lack of unity among stakeholders has stalled the implementation of the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP), a decade after the Federal Government came up with the policy.
They noted that the lacuna created by the non-implementation of the policy slowed down trade. They stressed that the auto trade has slowed down considerably because the economy is shrinking.
According to the body, assessing foreign exchange is also another big problem. They rallied the industry to find lasting solutions to the myriad of problems confronting the auto sector.
Meanwhile, to contribute significantly to the development of the sub-sector, the auto dealers said it has concluded plans to embark on the construction of a N350 million secretariat, which would serve as a hub to bring all auto dealership associations together to address the lingering challenges in the sector.
The association revealed this in Lagos during a press conference to announce the biennial award ceremony/N350 million fundraising gala event scheduled for November 16, 2025.
Chairman, Organising Committee of the programme, Amobi Moghalu, who briefed the newsmen, described it as shameful for a sector that contributes over seven per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), not to have a proper automobile Act to aid its growth and still regarded as an informal sector.
The Guardian reports that the auto policy, which provides the regulatory framework for industry development, had been stalled over the past decade.
According to Moghalu, the auto policy had suffered because of the disunity among the auto industry players.
He said the association was committed to serving as a rallying force for other auto dealerships in Nigeria through its proposed secretariat, which would serve as a hub for other auto dealers’ associations in Nigeria. He reiterated that the body was committed to professionalising the auto dealership sector by bringing together all players under one umbrella.
According to him, auto dealerships should not be an all-comers affair with virtually everybody claiming to be players in the industry.
“From mechanics to vulcanizers, plumbers to carpenters and all other artisans, everyone who had in the past successfully sold a vehicle assumes the toga of a car dealer.
“A proper dealership should, apart from displaying vehicles in a showroom, provide after-sales service, stock spare parts and other accessories and be capable of properly managing vehicle fleets for companies and big organisations.
“Even individual buyers should have their service records domiciled in the service and vehicle history books of the dealer, just like your doctor has your medical records in his or her office. A proper dealership should be capable of informing its customers of the due date for the servicing of their vehicles,” he said.
He expressed that at the forthcoming programme, the association would, apart from other awards, bestow the governor of the year award on Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, while other organisations like Samasun Motors, Royal C. Investment Company Limited, Crestline Logistics, as well as the Group Managing Director of Adron Homes would be honoured.
