Nigeria’s foremost auto manufacturer, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company on Wednesday hosted ECOWAS) Commission and Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) and the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC)at its factory based in Nnewi, Anambra State.
The visit highlighted the strategic importance of collaboration between national and regional institutions in driving industrial development.
Speaking on behalf of the Honourable Ministers and the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Muhammad Bala, Director of Industrial Development, (FMITI) emphasized that ECOWAS’ policies and grants have already created over 50,000 jobs across West Africa, showcasing the transformative power of regional industrial frameworks.
Mr. Bala commended Chief Innocent Chukwuma, founder of Innoson, for his entrepreneurial vision in evolving the company from a spare parts trader to a full-fledged manufacturer. He revealed that Nigeria has attracted over $1 billion in automotive investments, raising installed capacity to 400,000 vehicles annually, with the Nigerian Industrial Policy currently under review to strengthen local content, backward integration, and competitiveness.
Representing NADDC, Mr. Simeon Babatunde, Special Assistant to Naddc Director General reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to a sustainable and competitive automotive industry under the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP). He praised ECOWAS’ support through policy grants and underscored Nigeria’s active participation in AfCFTA and the Intra-African Trade Fair, positioning the country as a regional hub for automotive manufacturing.
Mr. Kabore Lassane, Director of Industry at the ECOWAS Commission, reiterated ECOWAS’ dedication to building a regional Automotive Policy Framework, supported by Afreximbank and the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers. He noted that while West Africa imports over 450,000 vehicles annually, mostly used, a stronger regional manufacturing base will unlock new opportunities for industrialization, value chain development, and job creation.
At a recent ministerial meeting in Accra, ECOWAS leaders resolved to draw inspiration from Nigeria’s NAIDP in shaping a regional automotive framework—a move expected to accelerate industrial growth and integration across West Africa.
In response, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma expressed gratitude for Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing’s recognition as a model of innovation, noting it as both an honor and a responsibility. He highlighted the company’s growth from spare parts trading to full-scale vehicle production as proof of what indigenous enterprises can achieve with the right support. Reaffirming Innoson’s commitment, he pledged to expand capacity, create jobs, and drive technology transfer and skills development in alignment with Nigeria’s Industrial Policy and the ECOWAS Automotive Policy. He also urged stronger regional collaboration under AfCFTA to build a thriving, less import-dependent, and globally competitive African automotive industry.
This joint assessment at Innoson Motors marks a pivotal step toward regional industrial transformation, with Nigeria leading the charge through policy reforms, indigenous innovation, and international partnerships. Together, NADDC, FMITI and ECOWAS are charting the course for a competitive, self-reliant, and future-ready automotive sector in West Africa.
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