NADDC, ALCMAN Partner Chinese Firm On National Auto Parts Digital Platform

The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has stepped up efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s automotive industry through a strategic partnership with the Automotive Local Content Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (ALCMAN) and China’s Heija Industrial Group to develop a National Auto Parts Digital Platform.

The initiative, discussed during a meeting at the council’s headquarters in Abuja, aims to establish a centralised database of Nigerian automotive component manufacturers and suppliers. The platform is expected to improve industry data, promote locally manufactured components, curb the circulation of counterfeit spare parts and provide credible market information for investors and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

Speaking at the meeting, ALCMAN National Chairman, Chief Anslem Ilekuba, said the project aligns with NADDC’s drive to expand local component manufacturing through technology transfer and strategic partnerships.

He noted that the absence of reliable industry data has hindered investment in Nigeria’s automotive sector, adding that the digital platform would provide verified information on manufacturers, production capacity and industry capabilities, thereby boosting investor confidence.

Ilekuba also disclosed that more than 4,500 Chinese automotive manufacturers have expressed interest in joining the platform through ALCMAN’s collaboration with Heija Industrial Group, creating opportunities for technology transfer and industrial cooperation.

Representatives of Heija Industrial Group presented the proposed framework for the platform, while officials from relevant government agencies offered technical inputs to enhance its implementation.

NADDC Director-General, Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, commended ALCMAN and its Chinese partners for the initiative, describing it as a significant step towards strengthening Nigeria’s automotive value chain.

According to him, credible industry data is critical to attracting investment, expanding local manufacturing and positioning Nigeria as a competitive automotive hub in Africa.

Osanipin requested a comprehensive implementation framework for the council’s technical review and reaffirmed NADDC’s commitment to promoting local content development, technology transfer, investment facilitation and the production of globally competitive Made-in-Nigeria automotive components.