The Nigerian Government has directed ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to purchase vehicles exclusively from licensed local assemblers or their authorised retailers under its Nigeria First Policy.
The policy requires government agencies seeking to procure foreign-assembled vehicles to prove that no suitable locally assembled alternative exists and obtain presidential approval before proceeding.
Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, announced the directive in Abuja, urging local vehicle assemblers to increase production, improve quality and strengthen after-sales services to meet government demand.
Osanipin said Nigeria’s vehicle assembly plants have a combined annual production capacity of 370,520 vehicles, adding that prioritising locally assembled vehicles in public procurement would create jobs, reduce imports and encourage domestic production of automotive components.
“We are fundamentally shifting the Nigeria First Policy. All vehicles procured by ministries, departments and agencies, including project utility vehicles, must be sourced exclusively from licensed local assemblers or their authorised retailers,” he said.
He added that no government agency could purchase a foreign-assembled vehicle without demonstrating the absence of a domestic alternative and obtaining direct presidential clearance.
Osanipin also said every vehicle supplied to the government must have a traceable Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) verified through the NADDC.
“Any supply outside licensed local assembly lines will attract immediate regulatory sanctions, including blacklisting and licence revocation,” he said.
The policy forms part of the Nigerian Government’s efforts to prioritise locally manufactured goods in public procurement and strengthen the domestic automotive industry.
The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) also warned vehicle assemblers that poor quality, inadequate after-sales support and breaches of procurement requirements could attract sanctions.
BPP Director-General Adebowale Adedokun urged manufacturers to invest in technology, quality control and maintenance services to meet government standards and improve the competitiveness of Nigeria’s automotive sector.
The directive places greater responsibility on local assemblers to supply reliable vehicles, maintain quality standards and provide adequate servicing and support after sales.
By directing MDAs to prioritise locally assembled vehicles, the government aims to increase demand for domestic production, support employment and reduce reliance on imported vehicles.