Federal Govt Targets 70% Local Vehicle Production, Up From Under 8%

The federal government plans to raise the share of Nigeria’s vehicle demand met by local assemblers from less than 8 per cent to 70 per cent, in a push to boost domestic manufacturing, create jobs and cut reliance on imported vehicles and parts.
The director-general of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Joseph Osanipin,  announced the target on Friday in Abuja at a press conference on implementing the Nigeria First Policy in the automotive sector.
He said the plan would be phased, with local production rising from under 8 per cent to 20 per cent, then 40 per cent, and eventually 70 per cent of domestic demand.
Osanipin said Nigeria’s assembly capacity is...