The Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), 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.
Osanipin made the remarks while delivering his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the West African Automotive Summit 2026.
Speaking before policymakers, investors, manufacturers, and other industry stakeholders, the NADDC boss described aftersales services as the “most potent yet under-leveraged growth engine” in Nigeria’s automotive sector.
He stressed that the future of the industry depends not only on vehicle sales and assembly, but also on the ability to sustain vehicles throughout their lifecycle through maintenance, spare parts supply, technical servicing, and customer support.
According to him, while vehicle assembly and sales often receive the most attention, the real strength of any automotive ecosystem lies in the efficiency of its aftersales structure.
Osanipin cited recent figures from the National Bureau of Statistics, as reported by Punch Newspapers, which showed a significant rise in vehicle imports and transport equipment across the country. He noted that the figures underscore the enormous economic value and untapped potential of the aftersales market.
He explained that in developing economies like Nigeria, only a small fraction of a vehicle’s lifetime cost is tied to its initial purchase, while the larger economic value lies within the aftersales ecosystem through spare parts, lubricants, tyres, diagnostics, and technical labour.
The NADDC DG further stated that consumer confidence in locally assembled vehicles is directly linked to the reliability of aftersales support systems, noting that guaranteed access to genuine spare parts and efficient service delivery improves the residual value and long-term perception of automotive brands.
Highlighting the industrial opportunities in the sector, Osanipin said aftersales services present a practical and lower-risk pathway toward full-scale local manufacturing, given the growing demand for consumables and replacement components nationwide.
He added that localizing fast-moving automotive spare parts could create thousands of specialized technical jobs, reduce pressure on foreign exchange, and strengthen Nigeria’s industrial base.
According to him, a strong aftersales ecosystem would also improve road safety, build public trust, and create opportunities for technicians, engineers, and small-scale manufacturers across the country.
He therefore called on investors and industry 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 in the automotive sector.
Also speaking at the summit, the Chairman of WAAS, Lukman Mahmud, said sustainable automotive growth cannot exist without strong support systems.
Mahmud noted that the true impact of vehicles is measured not only at the point of sale, but also through reliability, maintenance, technical expertise, service delivery, and consumer confidence.
The West African Automotive Summit 2026 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.
