The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Automotive Design and Development Council, has laid the groundwork to commence the domestic production of 10 essential vehicle spare parts.
This strategic initiative is aimed at reducing the nation’s annual reliance on imported spare parts, which costs approximately $1 billion.
This development was announced by NADDC’s Director General, Joseph Osanipin, in a statement issued on Saturday during the closing ceremony of a two-week training program in Abuja.
The training, which focused on automotive engineering and software design, was organized in collaboration with South Korea’s Midas IT Co.
It equipped 15 participants with expertise in using the Midas NFX software for advanced automotive design.
Represented by the Director of Research Design and Development, Fidelis Achiv, the NADDC boss emphasized the council’s commitment to manufacturing parts that would serve the over 11 million vehicles operating on Nigerian roads.
He also highlighted the council’s ambition to increase local assembling capacity from the current less than one percent to 40 percent, a move poised to significantly impact the economy.
“We aim to shift from the current practice of assembling vehicles with imported, fully built components to a system where substantial value is added locally,” Achiv stated. “Currently, vehicles are shipped in fully built, with only minor disassemblies such as removing tires or exhaust systems. Our vision is to see these vehicles arriving unpainted, with welding, painting, and parts manufacturing taking place here. This would add tremendous value to the economy and create numerous employment opportunities.”
Achiv further elaborated on the council’s ambition to establish Nigeria as a global leader in the production of at least 10 vehicle components.
“Out of over 3,000 parts in a vehicle, if Nigeria can manufacture just 10 with world-class quality, it will create an enormous market and revolutionize our economy,” he noted.
The training program, designed to build capacity in automotive design, was part of NADDC’s broader strategy to enhance local expertise.
Participants were encouraged to leverage their newly acquired skills to innovate within the automotive sector.
Managing Director of FAZSAL Nigeria Limited, Abdul-Lawal Zubair, praised the trainees for their dedication and urged them to channel their knowledge into groundbreaking designs.
“You’ve seen not just the theory but the practical side of automotive design,” Zubair said. “The Midas NFX software was chosen for a reason—it is comprehensive and highly effective. Let this training be a stepping stone for you to create solutions and possibly attract advanced training opportunities abroad.”
One of the trainees, Lukman, expressed gratitude to NADDC and Midas IT for the transformative experience.
“Midas NFX is remarkable software for modeling and analysis. It’s an all-in-one platform that fosters creativity and innovation,” he said. “This training has broadened my thinking and given me tools to contribute to Nigeria’s journey toward self-sufficiency in vehicle part production. With this knowledge, we can create solutions that optimize design and introduce creative ideas that meet market demands.”
