The Chairman of the Automotive Local Component Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (ALCMAN), Chief Anselm Ilekuba, has declared that Nigeria’s dream of building a globally competitive automotive industry will remain elusive unless the country urgently prioritises local component manufacturing and reduces its dependence on imported vehicle parts.
Speaking at the 3rd Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU) 2026, organised by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) in Lagos, Ilekuba said Nigeria stands at a defining moment where the decisions taken today will determine whether the automotive sector becomes a catalyst for industrialisation, massive job creation and economic prosperity, or continues to rely heavily on imported vehicles and components.
Addressing stakeholders under the summit theme, “Nigeria’s Clean Mobility Future: The EV and CNG Journey Under the President Bola Tinubu Administration,” he stressed that a sustainable automotive industry cannot exist without a strong local component manufacturing base.
According to him, local content is not merely an industrial policy slogan but the foundation of a resilient automotive ecosystem capable of driving long-term economic growth.
He said every vehicle assembled in Nigeria should, as much as possible, reflect Nigerian engineering, innovation and enterprise, adding that local component manufacturers possess the capacity and commitment to support vehicle assembly and develop a globally competitive automotive value chain.
Ilekuba, however, noted that indigenous manufacturers require an enabling environment backed by consistent government policies, affordable financing, improved infrastructure, technical skills development, quality standards, research and development, as well as a market that genuinely rewards local production.
He urged policymakers to shift attention beyond vehicle assembly and focus on increasing local value addition by expanding domestic production of automotive components.
“The real measure of success should be how many components are manufactured locally, how many Nigerians are employed, how much foreign exchange is saved and how many local companies become part of the global automotive supply chain,” he said.
The ALCMAN chairman called on the Federal Government and relevant agencies to strengthen collaboration between component manufacturers, vehicle assemblers, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), fleet operators and other major automotive stakeholders to accelerate industry growth.
He also advocated stronger implementation of the Nigerian First policy to ensure indigenous manufacturers receive fair opportunities to supply locally produced components wherever the capacity exists.
Describing the automotive sector as one of Nigeria’s biggest opportunities for economic diversification, Ilekuba said the industry has the potential to generate millions of direct and indirect jobs, stimulate innovation, develop technical skills, conserve foreign exchange and position Nigeria as Africa’s leading automotive manufacturing hub.
He emphasised that achieving these goals would require a united effort involving government, manufacturers, assemblers, financiers, academia, development partners and the media.
Ilekuba also commended NAJA for sustaining a credible platform for policy dialogue and industry engagement, noting that the media plays a strategic role in shaping public understanding, influencing policy and drawing attention to critical issues affecting the automotive sector.
He urged participants at the summit to move beyond discussions and embrace concrete action that would transform Nigeria’s automotive industry into one driven by local content, powered by Nigerian talent and capable of competing on the global stage.
He expressed confidence that with sustained collaboration and policy consistency, Made-in-Nigeria automotive components would become the preferred choice, while Nigerian manufacturers would emerge as key drivers of the country’s industrial transformation.
©Copyright MOTORING WORLD INTERNATIONAL. All rights reserved. Materials, photographs, illustrations and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior written permission from Motoring World International
Contact: editor@motoringworldng.com
