The 2023 edition of the annual three-day West Africa Automotive Show (WAAS), Nigeria’s largest automotive aftermarket trade event, kicked off at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, Tuesday, May 16, 2023.
Featuring over 100 exhibitors from within and outside Nigeria, this year’s show witnessed a great improvement on the two previous editions.
The opening day featured the inaugural automotive conference of WAAS chaired by Engr. Luqman Mamudu, a former acting Director General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC).
Mamudu disclosed that Nigeria was relying on “imports of used parts and substandard new ones” with an import bill of $3.3 billion annually instead of exploring the huge potential in the country’s automotive industry . He lamented that despite investment and initiatives in the automotive sector, local manufacturing of parts and vehicle assembly has stalled.
Commenting on the turnout at the ongoing show, Exhibition Manager, Georgina Lloyd, said she was satisfied with the participation as well as automotive products and services on display, stressing that the country’s automotive market remains one of the best in the world .
She commended local stakeholders, especially the Lagos chapter of the Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPMDA) for their impressive display at the opening.
“I’m delighted with the Nigeria market. The automotive industry has grown rapidly in Lagos and I won’t be surprised if ASPMDA rules the world in the nearest future. Ladipo market has always been our centre of attraction and I’m glad with the level by which it’s managed. We decided to bring this show to Nigeria because of the country’s status in Africa. I’m satisfied with what have seen and I say kudos to ASPMDA,” Lloyd said.
Excited at the organisation of the grand opening on Tuesday, President of ASPMDA, Ngozi Emechebe, showered encomiums on the organisers, saying, “We’re glad to witness an event of this magnitude. It hasn’t been an easy task organising an automotive exhibition show. On behalf of my members, we say thank you for this privilege and I hope the show inspires my members to greater height.”
