The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), alongside its Governing Board, on Tuesday, September 15th, 2026, embarked on a tour of selected automotive assembly plants in Lagos to assess their production capacities, local content development, operational challenges and prospects for increased vehicle manufacturing in Nigeria. The tour, led by the Chairman of the Governing Board, His Eminence Chief Emma Eneukwu, covered Lanre Shittu Motors, CIG Motors and Mikano Motors.
During the engagement at Lanre Shittu Motors, the Managing Director, Mr. Taiwo Shittu, expressed appreciation to the Board for the visit, noting that it provided an opportunity to showcase the company’s assembly operations and future plans. He disclosed that the company locally sources steel, lubricants, rubber and vehicle seats, while employing over 326 Nigerians and only one expatriate expert. He stated that the plant has the capacity to assemble six trucks and six buses daily, while its planned 40,000-square-metre facility in Ogun State will feature four production lines, each with a projected capacity of about 6,000 vehicles.
At CIG Motors, the Special Adviser to the Chairman, Brigadier General Chukwu Emeka (Rtd.), stressed the need for the transfer and indigenization of engineering technology to strengthen backward integration and local manufacturing. He disclosed that, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Eradication, the company had trained approximately 25,000 young Nigerians in automobile maintenance over the past two to three years. He emphasised that developing indigenous technical expertise remains critical to building a sustainable automotive manufacturing ecosystem.
The visit to Mikano Motors also provided the opportunity to assess their production capacity, identify challenges and chart a way forward. Addressing the team, the Operational Manager, Mr. Siyam Abdulkadir, stated that the company has an annual production capacity of between 15,000 and 20,000 vehicles and is positioned to meet consumer demands through continuous production. He explained that the company currently operates a Semi-Knocked Down (SKD) assembly system but is working towards Completely Knocked Down (CKD) production. He added that increased patronage of locally assembled vehicles would encourage further investment, noting that with the support of NADDC, the company is gradually advancing towards achieving its CKD ambitions.
Speaking on the significance of the tour, the Chairman of the NADDC Governing Board, His Eminence Chief Emma Eneukwu, expressed optimism about the capabilities of Nigerian automotive manufacturers, noting that the industry requires sustained government support and appropriate policies to unlock its full potential. He said the Board would continue to serve as a bridge between government and the private sector by conveying the concerns and demands of manufacturers and supporting efforts to create a more conducive environment for the growth of the automotive and transportation sector.
In his brief, the Director-General of NADDC, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, emphasized that the tour was designed to give the Governing Board firsthand knowledge of the capabilities and challenges of local assemblers, which would strengthen the Council’s advocacy for policies that encourage local production over vehicle importation. He highlighted the Nigeria First Policy and the implementation guidelines developed following engagements with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), as well as the recent circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation directing MDAs to procure Nigerian-made vehicles. He noted that the initiative is expected to expand the market for local assemblers, stimulate investment and further strengthen Nigeria’s automotive manufacturing industry.
