Nigeria currently has 40 functional vehicle assembly plants operating nationwide, with Innoson Motors ranking as the largest producer, according to the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC).
The Director-General of NADDC, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during a one-day training session for the Commerce and Industry Correspondents’ Association of Nigeria (CICAN).
Represented by the council’s Director of Public Relations, Susan Taiwo, Osanipin highlighted the expansion as a significant turnaround for the domestic automotive sector over the past two decades.
He cited generator manufacturer Mikano, which now assembles vehicles such as the Chang’an model, as an example of companies expanding into auto manufacturing.
Osanipin noted that the council is steering the industry toward cleaner transport options, including Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Electric Vehicles (EVs).
To support the CNG transition, the NADDC has begun licensing conversion centers nationwide and is conducting regional training sessions to equip technicians with system installation skills.
Addressing electric mobility, Osanipin stated that while the NADDC has piloted select charging stations, full-scale adoption will depend on private sector investment to build a robust nationwide charging infrastructure.
He urged private investors to capitalize on the shift toward green energy, emphasizing that government agencies serve as catalysts rather than sole operators in the automotive sector.
Osanipin also called for stronger media partnership to better highlight progress within the domestic auto industry.
