The federal government has identified inadequate after-sales services as the primary reason many government agencies are reluctant to purchase vehicles assembled in Nigeria, despite the Executive Order 5 mandating preference for domestically produced automobiles.
Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, revealed this during a meeting with the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) in Abuja.
The meeting, attended by representatives from various stakeholders in the automotive industry such as NAMA, MOMAN, G.M Motors, Anammco, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Ltd, and other key players, focused on discussions regarding the future of Nigeria’s automotive sector with AAAM.
Dr. Uzoka-Anite commended indigenous automobile assemblers for their economic contributions but stressed the need for them to prioritize after-sales support to remain competitive.
She emphasized that the government would only patronize auto assemblers offering robust after-sales services, highlighting its significance in increasing the preference for locally assembled vehicles by government agencies.
The Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) underscored in his welcome address that NAIDP 2023 aims to align local policies with AfCTA to enhance the industry’s competitiveness at the continental and global levels. He also emphasized the promotion of sustainability and environmental responsibility through incentives for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Electric-Powered vehicles.
