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By Moses Akaigwe
•Industry Minister, Dr. Uzoka-Anite (right) and NADDC DG, Joseph Osanipin, at the inauguration
Nearly one year after it was approved by the Federal Executive Council, the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP 2023) on Thursday returned to the front burner when the Federal Government inaugurated the implementation Committee in Abuja.
The Industry, Trade and Investment Minister, Dr. Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite, inaugurated the committee with membership from relevant federal ministries and agencies of government.
Speaking at the ceremony, the minister urged each member of the committee to embrace the responsibility with a spirit of commitment and collaboration, stressing the importance of working together and leveraging on the strengths of each other.
“I am deeply honoured to lead this distinguished group. Together, we have the power to make a real difference. Let us embark on this journey with unwavering determination, and together we will turn the NAIDP vision into a thriving reality”
She further said “This moment marks a significant milestone in our collective journey towards fostering growth, innovation and sustainability within Nigeria’s automotive industry”
In his remarks the Director General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. Joseph Osanipin, expressed his profound gratitude for the initiative, stating that the NAIDP 2023 was approved in 2023 with the aim of curtailing Nigeria’s almost total dependence on imports of automobiles.
Osanipin stated that the automotive industry development programme was also designed to meet a significant proportion of demand through increased domestic production of vehicles and components.
“The importance of inaugurating the committee is to see to proper implementation of the NAIDP-2023 and to ensure that there is inter-governmental handshake in achieving the seven pillars of the policy”
The NAIDP 2023 Implementation Committee has the minister of FMITI as the Chairperson, while other members include the ministers of Finance, Transport and Environment.
Members were also draw from agencies, including the Director General NADDC, the Comptroller General the Nigeria Customs Service, the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission, and the Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria.
The committee also has a representative each from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Nigeria Automotive Manufacturers Association and the Automotive Local Components Manufacturers Association – the three coming from the private sector.
The Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan(NAIDP 2023) was initiated as a road map to foster the growth of the automotive industry in Nigeria.
Following the approval of the new NAIDP in May, 2023, by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, the NADDC in November organised in Lagos a stakeholders’ engagement forum on the implementation of the document, culminating in inauguration of the implementation Committee four months later, on Thursday, May 28, 2024.
