Nigeria To Adopt Local Technology, Innovation To Drive Automotive Manufacturing Sector
Nigeria, through the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), is in forefront considering broader adoption of local technology and innovation in its policy direction towards expanding automotive manufacturing sector.
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) reaffirmed its dedication to enhancing quality control and adopting homegrown innovation in the nation’s automotive industry at the 2nd Nigeria Auto Industry Summit held in Lagos,
Director General SON, Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, represented by Engr. Sodiq Abayomi Damola, Head of SON’s Mechanical Testing Laboratory, highlighted SON’s crucial role in upholding rigorous standards to ensure the safety and reliability of automotive products while championing local manufacturing to reduce reliance on imports.
Damola emphasized SON’s efforts in crafting Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) through its Road Vehicles Technical Committee, which includes key players from the automotive ecosystem, adding that once formalized, these standards serve as enforceable benchmarks to guarantee the quality of both locally produced and imported automotive goods.
According to him, the Agency’s dual programs, which include the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) for domestic products and the SON Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) for imports are designed to ensure compliance with national quality standards, safeguarding consumers and supporting industrial growth.
Damola lamented the influx of counterfeit vehicle parts through Nigeria’s porous borders, which he said poses risks to safety and undermines local manufacturers.
He declared that the agency backed by the SON Act 2015 is empowered to inspect facilities, confiscate fake products, and pursue legal action against violators.
To strengthen enforcement, he said that SON is intensifying collaborations with other agencies and raising public awareness about the dangers of substandard components through targeted campaigns nationwide.
Damola, while acknowledging the summit’s “Nigeria First” theme, emphasized the importance of enhancing local content to drive job creation and economic self-sufficiency.
He mentioned the homegrown success stories like Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing and NORD Automobiles as evidence of Nigeria’s potential to produce world-class vehicles.
The Head of SON’s Mechanical Testing Laboratory also disclosed that SON is working closely with agencies such as the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), NASENI, Customs, and the Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC) to foster compliance and innovation, among others.
In empowering skills and innovation to nurture talent and technological advancement, he said that SON is supporting training initiatives for engineers, artisans, and mechanics, as well as partnering with educational institutions to integrate automotive-focused curricula.
The SON, he said, is also promoting research into electric vehicles and alternative fuels like compressed natural gas (CNG), together with efforts to certify locally developed technologies.
Damola urges greater collaboration among government, industry, academia, and civil society to advance Nigeria’s automotive ambitions, adding “By prioritizing local content and collective action, we can transform Nigeria into a hub for automotive excellence.”
He called on stakeholders to join the National Technical Committee on Road Vehicles towards expanding the automotive manufacturing sector’s future.