The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), alongside members of its Governing Board, has inspected selected automotive assembly plants in Lagos as part of efforts to assess production capacity, local content development and challenges confronting vehicle manufacturers in Nigeria.
The tour, held on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, and led by the Chairman of the NADDC Governing Board, Chief Emma Eneukwu, covered Lanre Shittu Motors (LSM) CIG Motors and Mikano Motors.
At Lanre Shittu Motors, the Managing Director, Mr. Taiwo Shittu, expressed appreciation to the Board for the visit, saying it provided an opportunity for the company to showcase its assembly operations and future expansion plans.
Shittu disclosed that the company locally sources steel, lubricants, rubber and vehicle seats, while employing more than 326 Nigerians and only one expatriate expert.
He said the plant has the capacity to assemble six trucks and six buses daily, adding that the company’s planned 40,000-square-metre facility in Ogun State would feature four production lines, each with a projected capacity of about 6,000 vehicles.
At CIG Motors, the company’s Special Adviser to the Chairman, Brigadier General Chukwu Emeka (Rtd.), stressed the importance of technology transfer and the indigenisation of engineering expertise 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.
Emeka said the development of indigenous technical expertise remained critical to building a sustainable automotive manufacturing ecosystem capable of supporting long-term growth.
The delegation also visited Mikano Motors, where discussions focused on the company’s production capacity, operational challenges and plans for expansion.
The Operational Manager, Mr. Siyam Abdulkadir, said the company has an annual production capacity of between 15,000 and 20,000 vehicles and is positioned to meet consumer demand through continuous production.
He explained that Mikano currently operates a Semi-Knocked Down (SKD) assembly system but is working towards Completely Knocked Down (CKD) production.
According to him, increased patronage of locally assembled vehicles would encourage further investment, noting that the company, with support from NADDC, is gradually advancing towards its CKD ambitions.
Speaking on the significance of the tour, Eneukwu expressed optimism about the capabilities of Nigerian automotive manufacturers, stressing the need for sustained government support and appropriate policies to unlock the sector’s potential.
He said the Board would continue to serve as a bridge between government and the private sector by communicating manufacturers’ concerns and demands to government and supporting efforts to create a more conducive environment for the growth of the automotive and transportation sectors.
In his brief, the Director-General of NADDC, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, said the tour was designed to give the Governing Board firsthand knowledge of the capabilities and challenges of local vehicle assemblers.
He explained that the information gathered would strengthen the Council’s advocacy for policies that encourage local vehicle production over importation.
Osanipin also highlighted the Nigeria First Policy and 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 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to procure Nigerian-made vehicles.
He said the policy was expected to expand the market for local assemblers, stimulate fresh investment and further strengthen Nigeria’s automotive manufacturing industry.
