The Federal Government has directed all ministries, departments and agencies to buy vehicles exclusively from licensed local assemblers or their authorised retailers, in line with the Nigeria First Policy.
The Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, announced the directive in Abuja.
He said Nigeria’s assembly plants have a combined annual capacity of 370,520 vehicles.
According to him, giving preference to local manufacturers will create jobs, reduce imports and boost the domestic production of components.
“We are fundamentally shifting the Nigeria First Policy. All vehicles procured by ministries, departments and agencies, including project utility vehicles, must be sourced exclusively from licensed local assemblers or their authorised retailers,” Osanipin said.
He added that no government agency may buy a foreign-assembled vehicle unless it proves that no local alternative exists and obtains direct presidential approval.
Osanipin said every vehicle supplied to the government must carry a traceable Vehicle Identification Number verified through the NADDC.
Any supply from outside licensed local assembly lines, he warned, would attract immediate sanctions, including blacklisting and licence revocation.
The Bureau of Public Procurement also cautioned assemblers that poor quality, weak after-sales support and breaches of the policy would be penalised.
Its Director-General, Adebowale Adedokun, urged manufacturers to invest in technology, quality control and maintenance services as the government works to build a competitive automotive industry.
