Auto Industry Growth Depends On After-sales Support— NADDC

The director general of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Joseph Osanipin, has said Nigeria’s automotive industry growth will depend largely on the development of strong after-sales support systems across the value chain.

Speaking at the West African Automotive Summit (West African Automotive Summit (WAAS) 2026), Osanipin described after-sales services as the most critical but underutilised driver of sustainable automotive development in Nigeria.

He explained that the future of the sector should not be measured only by vehicle assembly and sales, but by how well vehicles are maintained throughout their lifecycle.

According to him, reliable after-sales structures are essential to building consumer confidence in locally assembled vehicles and strengthening long-term market trust.

Osanipin noted that access to genuine spare parts and efficient maintenance services significantly improves vehicle reliability and residual value, while also enhancing the reputation of automotive brands operating in Nigeria.

He added that weak after-sales systems continue to undermine confidence in locally produced vehicles.

He further stressed that the expansion of after-sales services presents a major industrial opportunity, particularly through the local production of fast-moving spare parts and consumables.

According to him, such localisation efforts could reduce foreign exchange pressure, create thousands of technical jobs, and deepen Nigeria’s manufacturing base.

The NADDC DG also highlighted the wider socio-economic benefits of a strong after-sales ecosystem, including improved road safety, skills development for technicians and engineers, and increased opportunities for small and medium-scale enterprises in the automotive value chain.

Also speaking at the summit, the Chairman of WAAS, Lukman Mahmud, supported the call for a stronger support ecosystem, noting that sustainable growth in the automotive sector must be assessed not only by sales figures but also by service quality, reliability, and technical capacity across the industry.