Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in Nigeria have been urged to develop and submit a Nigerian Content Plan (NCP) to demonstrate their commitment to meeting the country’s local content requirements in the automotive manufacturing sector.

Similarly, the Nigerian Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has been tasked to ensure originality in Made-in-Nigeria automobile designs.

An automotive consultant, Prof. Oscar Odiboh, advised in Lagos during an interview with The Guardian. According to him, Nigerian OEMs should demonstrate sourcing a substantial portion of their automotive manufacturing materials, services, and labour locally.

Odiboh, who is also a lecturer at Delta State University, called on the country’s OEMs to prioritise Nigerian automotive value chain contributors over imports, minimise external dependence, and strengthen local co-creation and competition.

He emphasised that OEMs should gradually reduce the importation of Completely Knocked-Down (CKD) and Semi Knocked-Down (SKD) units. Odiboh further challenged the NADDC to ensure originality in Made-in-Nigeria designs while urging the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to enforce compliance with local content and quality standards.

He also called on the Coordinating Ministry of Economy and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to create an inclusive, sustainable investment support template for OEMs. In addition, he suggested that the Nigerian Orientation Agency (NOA) should reorient both government officials and the public to embrace Made-in-Nigeria automobiles.

“The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) should interface with OEMs and technical colleges to produce interns and a skilled workforce for the sector.

“As part of the current government’s reforms and its ‘Nigeria First’ philosophy, a National Automotive Economy Agency (NAEA) should be urgently created by President Bola Tinubu.

“This agency should expand the economic value chain in automotive investments in Nigeria and should also deliver the benefits therein for investors,” he said.