The Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, has emphasized the critical role of aftersales services in building a sustainable and globally competitive automotive industry in Nigeria and across West Africa. He made this known while speaking at the opening ceremony of the West African Automotive Summit (WAAS) 2026.
In his keynote address, the NADDC DG described aftersales as the “most potent yet under-leveraged growth engine” in the Nigerian automotive sector, stressing that the future of the industry depends not only on vehicle sales and assembly, but also on the capacity to sustain vehicles throughout their lifecycle. Addressing policymakers, investors, manufacturers, and industry stakeholders at the summit, he noted that while assembly and sales often receive the most attention, the true strength of any automotive ecosystem lies in its maintenance, spare parts supply, technical servicing, and consumer support structure.
According to the DG, recent figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), as published by Punch Newspaper, revealed a significant increase in vehicle imports and transport equipment across the country. He stated that these figures highlight the enormous economic value and untapped potential of the aftersales market, emphasizing that in developing economies such as Nigeria, only a fraction of a vehicle’s lifetime cost is tied to its initial purchase, while the greater value lies within the aftersales ecosystem through spare parts, lubricants, tyres, diagnostics, and technical labour.
The NADDC DG further explained that consumer confidence in locally assembled vehicles is directly linked to the reliability of aftersales support systems, noting that guaranteed access to genuine parts and efficient service delivery significantly improve the residual value and long-term perception of automotive brands. Highlighting the industrial opportunities within the sector, he stated that aftersales presents a practical and lower-risk pathway toward full-scale local manufacturing, as demand for consumables and replacement components continues to rise significantly across the country.
He stressed that localizing fast-moving automotive spare parts could create thousands of specialized technical jobs while also reducing pressure on foreign exchange and strengthening Nigeria’s industrial base. He also underscored the human impact of a strong aftersales ecosystem, noting that quality maintenance services improve road safety, build public trust, and create opportunities for technicians, engineers, and small-scale manufacturers nationwide.
Calling on investors and industry stakeholders to seize the opportunities within the sector, the DG urged stakeholders to reposition maintenance and aftersales services from being viewed merely as support operations to becoming core pillars of revenue generation, industrial development, and long-term sustainability within the automotive sector.
The Chairman of WAAS, Mr. Lukman Mahmud, stated that sustainable automotive growth cannot exist without strong support systems. He noted that the true impact of vehicles is measured not only at the point of sale, but also through reliability, maintenance, service delivery, technical expertise, and consumer confidence.
The West African Automotive Summit continues to serve as a strategic platform for regional collaboration, innovation, policy discussions, and investment partnerships aimed at advancing the automotive industry across West Africa.
