The Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Joseph Osanipin, has disclosed that Nigeria spent an estimated N6.54 trillion on importing spare parts in 2025.

Osanipin, while speaking at the West Africa Automotive Show 2026 in Lagos earlier in the week, described the figure as a major signal that the country must urgently develop local manufacturing capacity.

According to him, yearly spending on spare parts now represents between 12 and 15 per cent of Nigeria’s national budget.

“In 2025 alone, Nigeria spent N6.54 trillion on spare parts. That figure is even more than what we spent bringing vehicles into the country over the past 10 years.

“What we spent on spare parts outside labour is equivalent to about five or six state budgets put together. What Nigeria spends annually on spare parts is more than the budgets of several African countries combined,” Osanipin stated.

He said the figures underscored the need for investors to focus on component production, stressing that Nigeria could not sustain its automotive industry without developing local manufacturing capacity.

“That tells the story of where the economy is and where we need to focus. It also tells investors why they need to invest in parts production,” he added.

The NADDC boss also linked the push for local manufacturing to opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) agreement, noting that countries with at least 40 per cent local content in component production could export products across Africa duty-free.

“If we fail to take advantage of this opportunity, countries like Togo, Ghana, Morocco and South Africa can produce in large quantities and ship products into Nigeria duty-free. Then what happens to our industries and our graduates looking for jobs?” he asked.

Osanipin further disclosed that the council had expanded the number of approved automotive training manuals and standards from 17 to 32, with plans to increase them to 50 as part of efforts to strengthen technical capacity within the industry.

“We want to certify technicians so their qualifications will be recognised across the industry. We are building capacity because this industry is about people, technicians, artisans and families whose livelihoods depend on the sector,” he said.

Also, speaking, the President of the Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association, Ngozi Emechebe, called for stronger collaboration between the Federal Government and the Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPMDA) to strengthen the automotive sector and support the association’s “Keep Nigeria Moving” vision.

According to him, ASPMDA had evolved into a structured automotive trading hub capable of supporting industrial growth and partnerships with regulators and manufacturers.

“ASPMDA is a highly organised trading association. We have moved from street trading, and now we have a beautiful, world-class premises,” he said.

Emechebe disclosed that discussions were already ongoing with NADDC on areas of partnership aimed at boosting local automotive development and improving support for spare parts dealers and local manufacturers.

“We need government support and partnership. We have a part to play in Nigeria’s automotive development agenda,” he said.

On counterfeit products, the ASPMDA President said the association was intensifying efforts to sanitise the market through stricter regulations and collaboration with relevant agencies.

He revealed that office spaces had already been provided within ASPMDA’s premises for regulatory authorities responsible for monitoring counterfeit products and enforcing standards.

“We want to make it a cultural matter so that when you violate it, you know where you are headed. If you bring in your product, defend it to the end consumer and stand by it. Adulteration is not allowed,” he stated.

Emechebe also backed increased local production of automotive components, arguing that Nigerian-made products could compete effectively if built to standards suited to local conditions.

“Local production is even better than foreign production. Whatever you want from a person, you must give it a standard Nigerians will see and buy — standards that fit Nigeria,” he added.

He disclosed that some ASPMDA members were already involved in local production of automotive parts, while broader manufacturing partnerships may be explored in the future.

The West Africa Automotive Show brought together regulators, manufacturers, dealers, and other automotive stakeholders to discuss challenges and opportunities across West Africa.