The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has announced plans to enhance Nigeria’s automotive industry by initiating local production of ten critical vehicle spare parts. This initiative aims to reduce the country’s reliance on imported spare parts, which currently costs Nigeria around $1 billion annually. The NADDC’s Director General, Joseph Osanipin, represented by Fidelis Achiv, stated this at the conclusion of a two-week training program for auto engineers and software designers in Abuja. The boot camp, organized in collaboration with South Korea’s Midas IT Co., trained 15 participants on the use of Midas NFX software for advanced automotive design.
The council plans to boost local assembly, aiming to increase the use of domestically manufactured components in vehicles from less than 1% to 40%. Currently, most vehicle assemblies in Nigeria involve minimal value addition, with components arriving fully built and requiring only basic reassembly. NADDC envisions a shift where significant processes, including welding and component manufacturing, occur locally, thereby creating jobs and fostering industrial growth. With over 11 million vehicles on Nigerian roads, producing even ten globally competitive spare parts could have a transformative economic impact.
Additionally, the training focused on equipping engineers with skills to design and produce vehicle parts locally, fostering self-sufficiency in the sector. Abdul-Lawal Zubair, Managing Director of FAZSAL Nigeria Limited, encouraged participants to innovate and develop solutions to advance the industry, emphasizing the potential for advanced international training opportunities. A participant expressed gratitude for the opportunity, highlighting how the training on Midas NFX software has broadened their skills in modeling and analysis, essential for creating innovative and market-relevant designs.
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