NADDC pushes tyre, battery import ban

NADDC pushes tyre, battery import ban

The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has urged an end to the importation of vehicle tyres and batteries into Nigeria, emphasizing that boosting local production is essential for strengthening the country’s automotive industry, increasing GDP, and enhancing the domestic value chain. The call was made by NADDC Director-General Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin during a one-day workshop in Abuja focused on revitalizing the tyre and battery sectors. The event brought together regulators, manufacturers, financial institutions, and industry stakeholders to discuss strategies for growth.

Osanipin highlighted that Nigeria spent over N1 trillion on tyre imports in 2024 alone, a figure he described as unsustainable. He stressed the importance of producing tyres and batteries locally, including lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries, to reduce dependency on imports, conserve foreign exchange, and fast-track economic development. The workshop built on outcomes from the 2018 National Tyre Conference and addressed challenges such as raw material sourcing, product certification, quality assurance, and recycling of end-of-life products.

Key discussions included promoting backward integration in tyre production (through local sourcing of rubber, synthetic rubber, and carbon black), ensuring quality standards with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and preparing for New Energy Vehicle technology, particularly safe handling and management of lithium-ion batteries. Sustainability and responsible recycling of waste tyres and batteries were also highlighted, alongside direct regulatory engagement with manufacturers and importers to address industry bottlenecks.

Speakers including SON Director-General Ifeanyi Okeke and leaders of automotive associations stressed the risks posed by substandard imports, the economic benefits of local production, and the need for sustained stakeholder engagement to encourage patronage of locally manufactured automotive products. The initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s “Nigeria First Policy,” which prioritizes local production and consumption.

Punch, 6 Feb, 2026