Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Enoh, has inaugurated the reconstituted governing board of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), charging members to drive transformation in Nigeria’s automotive sector.
Enoh described the inauguration as a key step in the Federal Government’s efforts to revitalise the auto industry under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He highlighted NADDC’s strategic importance in building a competitive and sustainable sector capable of creating jobs, advancing technology, and boosting national productivity.
According to him, the appointment of the new board reflects the government’s commitment to repositioning the automotive sector through sound policies, infrastructure development, and collaboration with stakeholders.
“The board represents a diverse pool of expertise and experience, encompassing various facets of the automotive industry, academia and public service,” he said.
“I urge you to approach your duties with dedication, diligence and a forward-thinking mindset, without interfering in the day-to-day administration of the council.”
He outlined priority areas for the board, including strategic planning, policy formulation, infrastructure development, stakeholder engagement, skills development, and attracting investment.
He also stressed the importance of promoting local content and encouraging the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric vehicles as part of Nigeria’s energy transition strategy.
“The Nigerian automotive industry possesses immense potential. We have a large domestic market, a skilled workforce and a growing economy. Realising this potential requires collective effort,” he added.
Responding on behalf of the board, Chairman Mr Emma Eneukwu expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the appointment, describing it as a national service commitment.
“This appointment is not just a personal milestone, it is a call to national service at a critical time in our country’s economic transformation journey,” he said.
He pledged alignment with the Renewed Hope vision to restore investor confidence, drive industrial development, and deliver practical results to Nigerians.
Eneukwu reaffirmed the board’s commitment to implementing and reviewing the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP).
“We will encourage local manufacturing and assembly of vehicles and promote value chain development to generate jobs and skills nationwide,” he said.
“We also promise to support the adoption of CNG, electric and alternative fuel vehicles in line with global sustainability standards. We shall strengthen partnerships with investors, academia and research institutions to drive innovation and industrial competitiveness.”
He assured stakeholders of transparency, collaboration, and measurable performance.
StarReporters gathered that NADDC is the government agency responsible for implementing policies and programmes to develop Nigeria’s automotive industry.
Its Director-General, Mr Joseph Osanipin, expressed confidence that the newly inaugurated board would be instrumental in accelerating sectoral development.
Osanipin noted that the board’s representation of key industry stakeholders would promote stronger collaboration, faster responses to sectoral needs, and more effective policy execution across the automotive value chain.
He said stakeholders range from raw materials suppliers to vehicle assemblers and regulators of auto parts.
(NAN)