The Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Joseph Osanipin has advised Motor Dealers to prioritize local manufacturers and assemblers to benefit from the government’s patronage.
Osanipin said this at a stakeholder meeting in vehicle dealership registration with the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria in Akwa Ibom.
He explained that registration of Motor Dealers is a necessary step as it creates the foundational enabling environment for the country’s automotive sector to not only survive but to truly thrive and innovate.
“Our core mission is to revitalize and foster the robust growth of the Nigerian Automotive Sector.
“This endeavor is critical, considering the profound multiplier effects it has on our economy from generating employment and building local capacity to enhancing infrastructure and conserving our foreign reserves.
“Our ultimate goal at NADDC is to cultivate an enabling environment where Nigerian-made vehicles of International standards can be produced at competitive prices, utilizing our abundant local human and material resources, thereby positioning Nigeria as a leading automotive manufacturing nation globally,” ,” Osanipin stated.
The NADDC boss explained that it was the mandate of the council to regulate motor dealers noting that regulation is crucial for several fundamental reasons.
According to him, “It ensures the safety and environmental soundness of vehicles circulating within our market, actively combats the illicit trade of smuggled, accident, flooded, and aged vehicles, and crucially, addresses the detrimental impact that unregulated used vehicles can have on human lives, our national economy, and the environment.
Speaking the National President of Automotive Dealers of Nigeria, Ajibola Adedoyin, emphasized the advantages of a sound regulatory structure, citing improved national security and more government revenue as two examples.
He also encouraged the government to improve its regulations to make cars more accessible and affordable.
“The nation stands to gain a lot. We believe it’s wrong for anyone to import a vehicle without going through a registered dealer, as this makes it difficult to trace the vehicle in case of any issue.
“Security-wise, this is very important because many crimes are committed using untraceable vehicles. In addition to boosting revenue and improving ease of operations for both the industry and government, proper regulation helps curb a significant percentage of security threats,” Adedoyin said.