NIGERIA BLEEDS OVER ₦1TRN YEARLY ON VEHICLE IMPORTS — NADDC
By: Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
Nigeria spends more than one trillion naira every year importing vehicles, a trend the National Automotive Design and Development Council says must change if the country is serious about industrial growth. Speaking in Abuja, the Director-General of National Automotive Design and Development Council, Joseph Osanipin, said the nation’s automotive policy needs to be backed by law to attract serious investors and guarantee long-term stability.
He explained that while the Automotive Industry Development Plan offers direction, investors in vehicle assembly and parts manufacturing need legal assurance that incentives will survive political transitions. He also urged the media to project a positive and informed narrative about the sector to boost investor confidence.
Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Akintunde Rotimi, noted that legislation only delivers impact when citizens understand it, stressing the role of journalists in building trust through clear and professional reporting.
Echoing this, NUJ FCT Chairperson, Grace Ike, said stronger policy-focused journalism is key to public awareness, accountability, and attracting investment into Nigeria’s automotive industry.