Nigeria Auto Assemblers, MAN Seek Better Collaboration

Bennett  Oghifo

The Nigerian Automobile Manufacturers Association (NAMA) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) have resolved to have a better relationship to enable them improve Nigeria’s struggling automotive industry.

This was the focus of discussions when some members of the newly constituted board of NAMA, led by their Chairman, Bawo Omagbitse of PAN, paid a courtesy visit to the Director General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, at MAN House in Ikeja, Lagos, recently.

The team sought for a restoration of the hitherto cordial relationship existing between NAMA and MAN. The NAMA governing board representatives, which included Nunu Diwan of Iron Products Industries Ltd and Remi Olaofe, Executive Director of NAMA, expressed the imperative of the local automotive assemblers to get more involved and visible in MAN’s activities and programmes.

Also, NAMA expressed hope that going forward, MAN should be vocal on policies relating to the automotive sub-sector. “Being at a leadership advocacy position in promoting growth and sustainability of the manufacturing sector, MAN should support the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) in canvassing for the enactment of the 2023 NAIDP Bill, whose journey started in 2013,” Omagbitse said.

Both parties expressed dissatisfaction at the slow-speed Nigeria’s automotive industry is moving when compared to some other African countries.

The MAN and NAMA team took a critical look at the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement. (AfCTA), and wondered why Nigeria should not play that leading role as an automotive hub in the African continent considering the large population, rich human capital and economic base.

During the visit, the imperative of bolstering local content to complement the sourcing of over 2000 parts in a vehicle  was examined and it was agreed that content development would be driven by the appropriate policy environment.

In 2013, the Federal Government had unveiled the National Automotive Policy with a view to boosting local vehicle assembly and making the industry competitive.

Ten years down the line, many industry followers and stakeholders are still skeptical that the policy has been a mixed bag of successes and failures.

The automotive sub-sector, however, has huge potential for growth and job creation, and with the collaborative actions of all critical stakeholders, the future outlook is positive.