NADDC to produce spare parts for vehicles assembled in Nigeria

The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) says it has put in place the necessary structures and frameworks to begin the local manufacturing of essential vehicle spare parts.

In a statement on Saturday, Joseph Osanipin, director-general (DG) of NADDC, said the initiative aims to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported spare parts, which currently costs the nation $1 billion annually.

Osanipin spoke at an event to conclude a two-week training of auto engineers and software automotive design in Abuja.

The training boot camp, which focused on Midas NFX software for automotive design skills, was organised in collaboration with Midas IT Co. of South Korea, with 15 participants trained.

Osanipin, represented by Fidelis Achiv, director of directorate, research design and development at NADDC, said the council is ready to produce spare parts for the over 11 million vehicles on Nigerian roads.

He also said the council is working to increase the local assembling component in vehicles to 40 percent, up from the current capacity of less than one percent.

“We are working to achieve a level whereby we can go back to assembling vehicles that have up to 40 percent locally manufactured components. We have vehicle assemblies in Nigeria but the assembling that is going on is not adding much value to the economy,” Osanipin said.

“Vehicles that have been assembled come in completely built, and they just remove the tyres, remove the exhaust system, remove the engine, ship them, come and assemble them here.

“But we want to transform from that to a level where these vehicles come in unpainted, the welding is done here, some components parts are produced here and the assembly will add more value, and employ more people. We have over 11 million vehicles on our Nigerian roads.

“Of the over 3,000 parts in a vehicle, if we can leverage on producing just 10 that we can beat our chest, that in the whole world, Nigeria produces these 10 components and they are best, the market is going to be huge. Our economy will change.

“So the essence is to train these engineers to be able to design parts, to be able to produce parts so that we can be self-sufficient in vehicle parts production in Nigeria.”

‘PRODUCE INNOVATIVE DESIGNS FOR INDUSTRY GROWTH’

Abdul-Lawal Zubair, managing director of FAZSAL Nigeria Limited, encouraged participants to produce innovative designs to advance the automotive industry.

“You have not just seen the theory of design but with practicality. So as you go along, if you have a plan to work, there are opportunities out there. Solve the issue for us. There is a reason among all the software for this agency to choose MIGAS NFX,” Zubair said.

“Let them be proud of you. They can call you for advanced training. Possibly they can take you to South Korea for training. Don’t just know the software and keep it. Be innovative and give solutions.”

On October 12, Innocent Chukwuma, chief executive officer (CEO) of Innoson Motors, said his company plans to localise the production of car engines and other parts once the manufacturer reaches an annual sales target of 10,000 vehicles.

Chukwuma said achieving it will pave the way for establishing an engine factory in Nigeria.