The National Automotive Design and Development Council has called for duty waivers on raw materials imported by Nigerian vehicle manufacturers, arguing that current tariffs weaken the competitiveness of locally produced vehicles.
The Council made the call during an oversight visit to Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing and Kojo Motors facilities in Anambra State.
Director-General Joseph Osanipin said the visit was intended to assess local manufacturing and assembly capacity.
He said the Council was impressed by investments in electric vehicles and compressed-natural-gas vehicles.
Osanipin, however, said local producers faced a disadvantage when they paid import duties on raw materials while some imported fully built vehicles enjoyed more favorable tariff treatment.
He argued that the cost of duties on inputs was eventually reflected in vehicle prices.
The Council said it would take manufacturers’ complaints to the relevant authorities and advocate zero duty on qualifying production materials.
NADDC Board Chairman Emma Eneukwu also called for stronger tariff protection against fully built imported vehicles.
He argued that fiscal policy should support local manufacturing and align with the Federal Government’s Nigeria First policy.
The Council said recent directives encouraging government agencies to patronize locally manufactured products could improve demand for Nigerian-made vehicles.
Innoson Chairman Innocent Chukwuma and Kojo Motors Chairman Ikenna John Oguegbu led the delegation through their facilities.
Both companies said they would continue investing in local production and cleaner vehicle technologies.
The policy debate now centers on how to protect domestic manufacturing without unnecessarily raising prices or reducing consumer choice.
