…Reaffirms FG’s Commitment to Indigenous Automotive Manufacturing
FEMI OWOEYE
The Governing Board of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), led by its Chairman, Chief Emma Eneukwu, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to indigenous automotive manufacturing following an oversight visit to the nearly completed multi-billion-naira Kojo Motors Assembly Plant at Umunya, Anambra State.
The visit, which took place on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, underscored the government’s renewed drive to expand local vehicle production, deepen manufacturing capacity and strengthen Nigeria’s automotive value chain.
Accompanied by NADDC Director-General, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, and senior officials of the Council, the Board inspected the sprawling facility along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway and received presentations on Kojo Motors’ investment in vehicle assembly, alternative-fuel mobility and indigenous automotive manufacturing.
In a presentation, the Managing Director of OMAA, Chinedu Oguegbu, provided an overview of the massive Kojo Motors automotive assembly project, which commenced with Semi Knocked Down (SKD) production and is planned to advance into Complete Knocked Down (CKD) manufacturing.
He disclosed that the company’s strategic development plan includes the establishment of large-scale Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refuelling facilities to support Yutong and OMAA passenger and commercial vehicles, alongside other cleaner-energy mobility infrastructure.
According to him, the proposed LPG/CNG facility will also serve neighbouring states, positioning the investment as a potential regional hub for alternative-fuel transportation.
Oguegbu further revealed that Kojo Motors is developing local component manufacturing, including a seat production facility capable of producing quality seats of different sizes, dimensions and configurations for other Nigerian vehicle assemblers.
He said the seats would meet global standards, creating opportunities for local sourcing and strengthening the domestic automotive supply chain.
The NADDC Board was taken through various sections of the facility and briefed on assembly operations, production plans, technology partnerships and the company’s efforts to contribute to Nigeria’s automotive value chain.
The engagement also provided an opportunity to examine the challenges confronting indigenous assemblers and identify areas where government policy, technical support and institutional collaboration could facilitate investment and production.
NADDC Chairman Commends Investment
Speaking during the tour, Chief Emma Eneukwu commended Kojo Motors for committing substantial resources to automotive manufacturing and urged other indigenous investors to take advantage of opportunities in the sector.
“What we have seen here at Kojo Motors demonstrates that Nigerian investors can build viable automotive manufacturing capacity when there is commitment, vision and the right policy environment,” he said.
“The responsibility before NADDC is to continue creating an enabling environment in which investments such as this can grow, deepen local content and create jobs for Nigerians.”
Eneukwu said the Board would continue supporting initiatives capable of advancing the objectives of the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP), particularly local manufacturing, technology transfer, skills development and greater participation of Nigerian companies in the automotive value chain.
Also speaking, NADDC Director-General, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, described the visit as part of the Council’s continuing engagement with automotive assemblers to understand their operational realities and develop practical interventions that would increase production and local content.
“Our objective is not simply to have more assembly plants in Nigeria; we want to see increased production, stronger local content, technology transfer and a value chain that creates sustainable employment and industrial opportunities,” Osanipin stated.
“Facilities such as Kojo Motors are important to this vision, and NADDC will continue to work with investors and other stakeholders to address the challenges affecting automotive production.”
Osanipin has previously emphasised the importance of linking vehicle assemblers with local component manufacturers to ensure that Nigerian-made parts meet the quality and technical specifications required by assembly plants.
NADDC has also identified increased local content as a central component of Nigeria’s automotive development strategy.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Kojo Motors Limited, Ikenna Oguegbu, expressed appreciation to the NADDC Governing Board for visiting the facility, describing the engagement as significant to the company’s efforts to expand local automotive manufacturing.
“We are delighted to welcome the NADDC Governing Board to Kojo Motors. This visit is a strong encouragement to indigenous investors who have committed their resources to building Nigeria’s automotive industry,” he said.
“We remain committed to working with NADDC and other stakeholders to make this facility a centre of automotive production, technology transfer, employment and value creation.”
Reiterating Kojo Motors’ commitment to local assembly, cleaner-energy transportation solutions, skills development and collaboration with international technology partners, he called for continued Federal Government support.
He said the project’s potential impact on employment generation and the growth of spin-off businesses within the locality would be enormous.
The NADDC Board’s visit comes against the background of the Federal Government’s renewed emphasis on expanding local vehicle production and strengthening the domestic automotive value chain.
The Council’s development framework includes increasing vehicle production, transitioning towards deeper manufacturing, raising local content and expanding electric-vehicle production.
The Umunya facility’s strategic location along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway also positions the investment to contribute to the industrial development of the South-East and Nigeria’s broader automotive manufacturing ambitions.
The visit provided a platform for government and industry stakeholders to examine how indigenous assembly investments can move beyond vehicle assembly into deeper manufacturing, component sourcing, technology development and sustainable mobility.
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