The Automotive Local Components Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (ALCMAN) has called for stronger government support to boost local manufacturing of automotive components.

The chairman of ALCMAN, Anselm Ilekuba, made the call at the third Nigeria Auto Industry Summit on Thursday in Lagos.

The summit was organised by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA), in collaboration with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC).

It had the theme, “Nigeria’s Clean Mobility Future: The EV and CNG Journey Under the President Bola Tinubu Administration.”

According to Mr Ilekuba, Nigeria’s automotive industry cannot thrive without a robust indigenous component production base.

“Every vehicle assembled in Nigeria should increasingly incorporate locally manufactured components to strengthen industrialisation, create jobs and reduce dependence on imports.

“Indigenous component manufacturers possess the capacity and expertise to support vehicle assembly, but require consistent government policies.

‘’It also requires affordable financing, improved infrastructure and a market that prioritises locally produced goods,” the ALCMAN leader said.

He urged the federal government to strengthen implementation of the Nigerian First policy by giving local manufacturers fair opportunities to supply components where domestic capacity already existed.

He also called for stronger collaboration among component manufacturers, vehicle assemblers and other industry stakeholders to deepen local value addition and build a globally competitive automotive value chain.

“Expanding local component manufacturing will conserve foreign exchange, create millions of jobs, stimulate innovation and position Nigeria as a leading automotive manufacturing hub in Africa,” he said. 

(NAN)