By Charles Pemu 
The Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, has hailed the Federal Government’s newly introduced ‘Nigeria First’ policy as a game-changer for the local auto industry. The policy, launched on May 5, 2025, mandates all federal ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to prioritize Nigerian-made goods and services—especially vehicles—when spending public funds.
Osanipin stated that the NADDC has updated its list of certified local auto manufacturers and their available products, a key document that will support procurement decisions in line with the policy. He emphasized that the move surpasses previous Executive Orders 3 and 5 by mandating 100% local procurement, except where products are unavailable domestically.
Key stakeholders in the auto industry, including Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing’s Chairman, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, and Dana Motors MD, Jacky Hathiramani, also praised the initiative. Chukwuma highlighted IVM’s readiness to meet demand with a wide array of locally made petrol, diesel, and CNG vehicles. Hathiramani noted the policy’s potential to boost assembly operations, supply chains, and OEM incentives