NAMA, MAN urge more FG commitment to grow auto sector

Nigeria Automobile Manufacturers Association (NAMA) and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) have emphasised the need for better synergy to move Nigeria’s struggling automotive industry forward.

They also demanded more commitment from the Federal Government to grow the sector.
The call was made recently when representatives of the newly-constituted governing board of NAMA visited the Director-General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, in Lagos.

During the visit of the NAMA board, led by the Chairman, Bawo Omagbitse of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN), to MAN House, they sought the restoration of the hitherto cordial relationship between NAMA and MAN.

The NAMA governing board representatives, including Nunu Diwan of Iron Products Industries and Executive Director, NAMA, Remi Olaofe, expressed the imperative of the local automotive assemblers to get more involved and be visible in MAN’s activities.

Furthermore, NAMA expressed hope that, going forward, MAN should be vocal on policies relating to the automotive sub-sector.

It stated: “Being in leadership advocacy position in promoting growth and sustainability of the manufacturing sector, MAN should support the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) in canvassing for the enactment of the 2023 NAIDP Bill, whose journey started in 2013.”

Both parties expressed dissatisfaction at the slow-speed Nigeria’s automotive industry is moving when compared to some other African countries.

The MAN and NAMA teams took a critical look at the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), and wondered why Nigeria should not play that leading role as an automotive hub in the continent, considering the large population, rich human capital and economic base.

During the visit, the imperative of bolstering local content to complement the sourcing of over 2,000 parts in a vehicle was examined and it was agreed that content development would be driven by the appropriate policy environment.

The Federal Government had unveiled the National Automotive Policy, in 2013, to boost local vehicle assembly and make the industry competitive. Ten years down the line, many industry followers and stakeholders are still sceptical that the policy had been a mixed bag of successes and failures.

However, the automotive sub-sector has huge potential for growth and job creation, and with the collaborative actions of all critical stakeholders, the future outlook is positive, some of the stakeholders noted.