The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), has said that the 2026 Abuja International Motor Fair would provide a strategic platform for automobile manufacturers, local assemblers, component producers, investors, technology providers and policymakers to connect, exchange ideas and explore business opportunities.
The NADDC Director General, Oluwemimo Osanipin, stated this at
the Joint Press Briefing for the 26th Abuja International Motor Fair, in Abuja Nigeria with the theme: “Driving Nigeria’s Automotive Future”, from 10th to 13th November 2026.
Otunba Osanipin said the Motor Fair is strategic and Important, describing
the automotive industry as a “major driver of industrialization, employment generation, technological advancement and economic growth,
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to building a competitive, sustainable and globally relevant Nigerian automotive industry.
“As we prepare for this 26th edition, our ambition should go beyond displaying vehicles and automotive products. We should use the fair to promote local production, attract investment, encourage technology transfer and showcase Nigerian innovation. The future of our automotive industry should not be defined solely by the vehicles we
import, but increasingly by what we design, manufacture, assemble and
develop for domestic and international markets,” he said.
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The Director General re-emphasized the significant opportunities to diversify the economy, conserve foreign exchange, create jobs and strengthen indigenous manufacturing capabilities.
“Our priorities include strengthening local content development, supporting vehicle assembly and component manufacturing, promoting research and innovation, building technical capacity and encouraging investment in emerging automotive technologies,” the Director General stated.
According to him, the NADDC remains committed to developing a sustainable automotive industry that contributes meaningfully to Nigeria’s
industrialization and economic prosperity.
Osanipin re-emphasized the Council’s commitment to preparing Nigeria for the transformation taking place in the global automotive sector, particularly in electric mobility, alternative fuels, battery technology, digital manufacturing and intelligent vehicle systems.
The Director General also said that Nigeria possesses the human capital, entrepreneurial potential and market opportunities required to build this ecosystem, provided we continue to connect these advantages with investment, technology, skills and appropriate industrial policies.
Osanipin said through the NADDC capacity-building initiatives and partnerships with relevant institutions, NADDC continues to support the development of technical skills required across the automotive value chain, including CNG conversion, automotive maintenance and emerging mobility technologies.
“Our young people should not remain spectators in the transformation of the global
automotive industry,” Osanipin added.
He said the 26th Abuja International Motor Fair would strengthen engagement between local manufacturers and international
brands, showcase Nigerian-made and assembled products, promote local content development, facilitate technology transfer and encourage research and innovation.
He appreciated the media for its vital role in promoting innovation, informing the public and highlighting opportunities for national development.
The Director General commended the BKG Exhibitions Limited, the industry partners, and all stakeholders supporting the important initiative.
Earlier, the Managing Director of BKG Exhibitions limited, Chief Williams Agwu, said that the 26th Abuja International Motor Fair is being positioned as more than an exhibition, stressing that it is a meeting point for manufacturers, assemblers, distributors, component producers, financial institutions, fleet owners, transport operators, government agencies, State governments, investors and millions of present and future vehicle owners.
