MATILDA OWOEYE
From the National Assembly to state Government Houses, convoys of brand-new foreign vehicles have become symbols not of leadership, but of hypocrisy. As the Federal Government pushes its Nigeria First agenda, 2026 must become a defining moment: legislators, the Presidency, governors and all government functionaries should buy and ride only Nigerian-made and Nigerian-assembled vehicles.
Anything less would render the policy meaningless. The National Assembly, in particular, has perfected an unfortunate ritual. Despite public outrage and economic hardship, lawmakers routinely approve huge budgets for imported luxury SUVs, often at prices far higher than locally assembled alternatives. The irony is painful: the same lawmakers who debate bills on job creation and industrial growth consistently undermine those goals through their own purchasing decisions.
Industry stakeholders insist this is no longer a question of capacity. Nigeria’s automotive sector has matured well beyond the experimental phase. Today, there is hardly any specification-luxury, performance, safety or security that local assemblers cannot meet. This includes high-end SUVs and fully armoured, bulletproof vehicles suitable for presidents, governors and principal officers of the legislature.
According to executives within the industry, companies such as Nord Automobiles, Mikano Motors, Coscharis Group, CFAO Mobility, Kia’s Nigerian assembly partners and Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) already produce or assemble SUVs designed for Nigerian conditions. These vehicles are built with reinforced suspensions, climate-appropriate systems and safety features that match international standards. More importantly, they are supported locally, with parts availability and technical expertise on ground.
What government patronage would achieve is not merely higher sales figures. Stakeholders argue that the real impact lies in confidence-building. When top government officials deliberately choose Nigerian-assembled vehicles, they validate the industry in a way no advertising campaign ever could. A presidential convoy rolling out in Nigerian-assembled SUVs would instantly answer lingering public doubts about quality, safety and durability.
Auto industry leaders have long maintained that perception is the biggest barrier facing locally assembled vehicles. Nigerians often ask a simple question: If these cars are good enough, why don’t our leaders use them? Government adoption would end that debate overnight.
There is also a compelling economic argument. Every imported government vehicle represents lost jobs, lost skills and wasted foreign exchange. In contrast, local procurement supports welders, engineers, technicians, dealers, logistics providers and aftersales professionals across the country. It strengthens supply chains, deepens technical competence and brings Nigeria closer to true automotive self-sufficiency.
From a policy perspective, mandatory government patronage aligns perfectly with existing frameworks. The National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) was designed to stimulate local manufacturing through incentives and demand. The Nigeria First policy reinforces the principle that government spending should prioritise domestic value creation. Requiring public office holders to buy Nigerian-assembled vehicles is not radical. It is logical policy execution.
Security concerns are often raised as a defense for imports, but manufacturers dismiss this as outdated thinking. Armoured SUVs can be specified, assembled and supported locally, with better turnaround times and accountability than fully imported units. In fact, local assembly allows government to directly influence standards, configurations and lifecycle costs.
Beyond economics and policy lies a moral question. Leadership is about example. It is difficult to ask citizens to believe in Nigeria, invest in Nigeria and buy Nigerian when those at the very top refuse to do so themselves. Patriotism cannot be preached from imported convoys.
From 2026, Nigeria’s leaders have a clear choice. They can continue the old habit of imported excess. Or they can send a powerful signal that Nigeria believes in what it builds.
Real leadership should not just pass laws. It should drive them. On Nigerian wheels.
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