NADDC DG seeks Spanish investment into Nigeria’s auto component production

BY MIKE OCHONMA

As efforts towards genuine local automobile assembly continues to gain traction, the director-general, National Automotive Design and Development Council, NADDC, Jelani Aliyu, has called on Spanish companies and groups to invest in the production of vehicle components in Nigeria.

The NADDC boss made the call on while speaking as a panelist at the Nigerian-Spainish Business and Trade Forum in Madrid, Spain.

According to him, leveraging the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, the investors will produce the auto components for both local market and exports to other African countries.

While highlighting the opportunities in the local production of automotive components that could be shipped to Spanish and other European automotive assembly plants, Mr Aliyu said: “Nigeria is ready for innovation and advanced automotive solutions, products and services.”

Jelani Aliyu added that the Spanish companies could really add significant value to the automotive space in Nigeria.

According to him, “We are looking forward to further in-depth discussions with interested companies and how they can come in to be part of this incredible journey that we have started in Nigeria, especially in Vehicle Electrification,” the director-general added.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed Dansatta-Rimi, has commended the NADDC DG for his efforts indeveloping the automotive industry in the country.

The ambassador made the commendation when the director-general paid him a courtesy visit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, during theElectric Vehicle Innovation Summit, EVIS, which took place from May 23 to 25.

While thanking Aliyu for the visit, the Ambassador urged the director-general to continue with his efforts in making Nigeria Africa’sepi-centre for automobile production.

Then director-general has begun talks with anautomobile firm for the production of solar-powered tractors in Nigeria.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari was in Spain for a three-day State Visit where he met with Spanish political and business leaders.