Government warns manufacturers of sanctions over poor quality, weak after-sales support and violations of local procurement rules…..
The Federal Government has directed all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to purchase vehicles exclusively from licensed local assemblers or their authorised retailers, in a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s automotive industry and reducing dependence on imported vehicles.
Under the Nigeria First Policy, government agencies will no longer be permitted to procure foreign-assembled vehicles unless they can establish that no suitable locally assembled alternative is available and obtain direct presidential approval.
Speaking in Abuja, the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, said Nigeria’s vehicle assembly plants have a combined annual production capacity of 370,520 units.
He explained that directing government procurement towards locally assembled vehicles would stimulate domestic manufacturing, create employment opportunities, reduce importation and encourage the production of vehicle components within the country.
Osanipin said the policy introduces stricter measures to ensure compliance, with every vehicle supplied to the government required to carry a traceable Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) verified by the NADDC.
He warned that suppliers operating outside approved local assembly channels would face regulatory action, including blacklisting and the revocation of their licences.
The policy also places greater responsibility on local assemblers to meet the government’s expectations on product quality, reliability and customer support.
The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Adebowale Adedokun, cautioned manufacturers against compromising standards, stressing that poor-quality vehicles, inadequate after-sales services and other breaches of procurement requirements would attract sanctions.
Adedokun urged local vehicle manufacturers to invest in modern technology, strengthen quality control and improve maintenance services to ensure that vehicles supplied to government agencies remain reliable after purchase.
The Federal Government’s renewed push for locally assembled vehicles is expected to give domestic manufacturers greater access to public procurement opportunities while encouraging improvements in production standards and service delivery.
However, the effectiveness of the policy will depend on the ability of local assemblers to meet government demand, maintain competitive quality and provide adequate after-sales support.
