NADDC Unveils Automotive Park in Nnewi to Boost Local Vehicle Production, Seeks Investor Support

By ThankGod Inalegwu

The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has announced plans to establish a major Automotive Development Park in Nnewi, Nnewi, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s automobile industry and reduce dependence on imports.
The Director-General of NADDC, Oluwemimo Osanipin, disclosed the initiative in Abuja while briefing journalists on the Council’s activities under the Nigeria First Policy of the administration of Bola Tinubu.
Osanipin explained that the proposed Nnewi Automotive Development Park is designed to provide shared infrastructure for manufacturers and assemblers, thereby lowering entry barriers and operational costs for investors in the sector.
“We’re developing an Automotive Park known as the Nnewi Automotive Development Park, and we are going to provide the necessary infrastructure so that users of the park can share facilities without needing to have everything individually before setting up,” he said. “We have reached a stage where we require investors to come in and commit more funds to accelerate its development.”
He called on both local and foreign investors, as well as industry stakeholders, to support the initiative to ensure its timely completion and long-term success.
The NADDC boss also urged Nigerians to prioritize patronage of locally assembled vehicles, noting that such support would help create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity.
As part of broader reforms in the sector, Osanipin revealed that the Federal Government has approved the procurement of electric vehicles for civil servants, with a focus on sourcing them from local assemblers. He added that plans are underway to deploy charging infrastructure across key locations nationwide to support the transition.
“The Federal Government has approved the acquisition of electric buses to be used by civil servants, and these vehicles will be procured from local assemblers in Nigeria. Additionally, the government has taken steps to procure charging stations that will be installed across parts of the country,” he stated.
He further noted that NADDC is investing in capacity-building programmes for manufacturers and stakeholders to boost local production of key components such as batteries and tyres, thereby reducing reliance on imports and enhancing Nigeria’s industrial base.
In addition, the Council is working on a legislative proposal to be submitted to the National Assembly to strengthen its regulatory framework and align operations with global best practices.
Osanipin also disclosed ongoing collaboration with the Bank of Industry (BOI) to facilitate the disbursement of the National Automotive Development Fund (NADF) to qualified stakeholders, aimed at driving growth and innovation within the sector.
Reaffirming the Council’s commitment, the NADDC Director-General emphasized that sustained collaboration among government, investors, and industry players would be critical to repositioning Nigeria as a competitive hub for automobile manufacturing in Africa.