YEMI AROGUNDADE
The Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Joseph Oluwemimo Osanipin, has delivered a major confidence boost to Nigeria’s auto industry after openly endorsing the ruggedness, affordability and market readiness of the JIM Isuzu Pick-Up at the ongoing West Africa Automotive Show 2026.
Speaking during a high-profile tour of exhibitors’ stands shortly after declaring the three-day automotive exhibition open at Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, Osanipin described the locally assembled pick-up as a shining example of the kind of vehicles needed to drive Nigeria’s industrial and mobility ambitions.
The NADDC boss, who personally inspected the vehicle at the pavilion of Cedric Masters Group, praised the JIM Isuzu Pick-Up for its engineering quality, durability and adaptability to Nigeria’s demanding road conditions.
“I have driven the JIM Isuzu Pick-Up several times and I can confidently say it is one product that guarantees buyers real return on investment,” Osanipin declared.
His remarks instantly drew attention from industry stakeholders and visitors at the show, many of whom see the endorsement as a strong signal of growing confidence in Nigeria’s evolving vehicle assembly ecosystem.
Osanipin noted that the vehicle aligns perfectly with the Federal Government’s push for local automotive development, technology transfer and deeper local content participation.
“The quality of this pick-up is impressive and clearly designed with durability and functionality in mind. What we are seeing here reflects the kind of progress the Nigerian automotive industry needs to sustain,” he said.
According to him, the Nigerian automotive sector is steadily entering a new growth phase powered by stronger private sector investments, expanding assembly operations and increasing collaboration between international vehicle brands and local operators.
He stressed that NADDC would continue to support credible automotive companies investing in local assembly, manpower development, after-sales service and industrial capacity building, identifying CedricMasters as one of the operators contributing meaningfully to the sector’s growth.
The NADDC Director-General further highlighted the critical role utility vehicles like the JIM Isuzu Pick-Up can play across key sectors of the economy, including agriculture, logistics, construction, security and small business operations.
He also renewed calls for greater patronage of locally assembled vehicles, insisting that increased support for Nigerian assembly plants would stimulate industrial growth, create jobs and strengthen the nation’s automotive value chain.
On his part, Eze Igwe, General Manager of Cedric Motors, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to producing vehicles tailored specifically for Nigerian users and operating realities.
He said the JIM Isuzu Pick-Up combines rugged suspension, fuel efficiency, performance and driver comfort, making it suitable for both commercial and personal use.
Industry observers believe the public endorsement by the NADDC Director-General could further elevate the market profile of the JIM Isuzu Pick-Up while reinforcing investor confidence in Nigeria’s rapidly expanding automotive assembly sector.
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