NADDC to Establish Automotive Park in Anambra as FG Approves Electric Buses for Workers

The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) is set to establish an Automotive Park in Nnewi, Anambra State, aimed at bridging existing gaps and advancing the nation’s automobile sector.

The Director General of NADDC, Otunba Oluwemimo Osanipin, disclosed this in Abuja while speaking with journalists on the Council’s activities under the Nigeria First Policy initiative of President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
Otunba Oluwemimo Osanipin noted that the Council has also outlined several programmes targeted at boosting the growth of Nigeria’s automobile industry. He called on investors and stakeholders to support the Automotive Park initiative to ensure the realization of its objectives.
“We’re developing an Automotive Park known as the Nnewi Automotive Development Park, and we are going to provide the necessary infrastructure so that users of the park can share facilities without needing to have everything individually before setting up. We have reached a stage where we require investors to come in and commit more funds to accelerate its development,” he said.
The Director General further urged Nigerians to patronize locally assembled and manufactured vehicles as a way to create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
According to him, the current administration will continue to provide an enabling environment for the adoption of electric vehicles in line with the Nigeria First Policy of President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
He revealed that the Federal Government has approved the use of electric vehicles for workers, which will be sourced from local assemblers.
In his words, “The Federal Government has approved the acquisition of electric buses to be used by civil servants, and these vehicles will be procured from local assemblers in Nigeria. Additionally, the government has taken steps to procure charging stations that will be installed across parts of the country. All these efforts are aimed at promoting the adoption of electric vehicles.”
He explained that NADDC is also providing necessary training to manufacturers and stakeholders in the automobile industry to reduce reliance on the importation of vehicle batteries and tyres, thereby encouraging local production, boosting employment opportunities, and increasing Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for overall economic development.
The Director General added that the Council is working towards sending a bill to the National Assembly to strengthen NADDC’s operations and programmes in line with current realities and global best practices in the automobile industry.
He further stated that NADDC is collaborating with the Bank of Industry (BOI) to facilitate the disbursement of the National Automotive Development Fund (NADF) to qualified stakeholders as part of efforts to grow the sector.
While reaffirming the Council’s commitment to repositioning Nigeria’s automobile industry, Otunba Oluwemimo Osanipin appealed for continued support from stakeholders to achieve its mandate for the sector.