Professor Odiboh Advocates for Robust Local Content Policy, New Auto Economy Agency.
By Daphne Uduneje
A Professor of mass communication at Delta state university, Abraka, Professor Oscar Odiboh has called for a transformative local Content strategy rooted in the Nigerian content plan (NCP) while recommending that a National Automotive Agency should be established.
Odiboh who spoke at a crucial policy forum organized by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ikeja, Lagos, made this call while giving a keynote address titled “Nigeria First: Powering the Auto Economy Through Local Content revealed that a transformative local Content strategy rooted in Nigeria Content plan will be necessary for a vibrant automobile industry.
He urged Nigerian Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to prioritize locally sourced materials, labor, and services to bolster the nation’s economy.“By focusing on local suppliers and workers, OEMs can spark innovation, strengthen supply chains, and create sustainable employment opportunities,” Odiboh emphasized.
He proposed a phased reduction of Completely Knocked Down (CKD) and Semi-Knocked Down (SKD) imports to enhance domestic manufacturing capabilities and industrial self-reliance.
The University Don called on the Nigerian Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) to champion authentic design and engineering for Nigerian-made vehicles.
He also urged the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to enforce stringent local content and quality standards.
To support OEMs, he recommended that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Coordinating Ministry of Economy provide incentives and accessible financing options. He further tasked the National Orientation Agency (NOA) on promoting a cultural shift toward embracing locally produced vehicles and encouraged the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to foster collaborations between technical schools and OEMs to build a skilled automotive workforce.
A standout proposal was the establishment of a National Automotive Economy Agency (NAEA), which Odiboh envisioned as a driver of Nigeria’s automotive industrialization under the “Nigeria First” initiative.
He suggested that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu launch the agency with a $5 billion initial investment and a 25-year plan for profitability.“Let’s rebrand the sector as the ‘auto economy’ rather than just an industry, and recognize all stakeholders as ‘automotive investors’ to reflect their critical role,” Odiboh declared.In a goodwill message, NADDC Director General Joseph Osanipin echoed the call for localization, describing it as the backbone of economic progress. “Local content is the key to unlocking a thriving automotive sector,” he said, highlighting NADDC’s efforts in providing production incentives, skills training, and research support to build a robust industry foundation.
He acknowledged challenges such as financing and raw material access but called for collective action to advance the “Nigeria First” vision.