African Automotive body blasts disunity among Nigerian Auto Manufacturers, praises Ghana’s progress

The Association of African Automotive Journalists (AAAJ) has expressed strong concerns over the persistent lack of unity and cohesion within the Nigerian Automobile Manufacturers Association (NAMA), a situation it says has stunted progress in Nigeria’s auto industry — especially when compared to the strides made by Ghana under its Automobile Assemblers Association of Ghana (AAAG).

In a strongly worded statement, AAAJ emphasized that the disunity among Nigerian vehicle assemblers has been a major impediment to the passage of the long-awaited Nigerian Automotive Policy into law.

According to the association, this internal fragmentation has left Nigeria lagging behind its regional counterparts in developing a robust auto manufacturing ecosystem.

Mike Ochonma, President of the AAAJ and immediate past Chairman of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA), criticized the delay by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in signing the national automotive policy into law.

He also called on NAMA to consolidate its leadership, become more organized, and ensure a unified front among local auto assemblers.

“It is deeply concerning that not all Nigerian auto assemblers — many of whom benefit from generous government incentives — are registered with NAMA. This is unacceptable,” Ochonma said, noting that investigations revealed the association currently lacks a functional secretariat.

The AAAJ president, however, commended Joseph Osanipin, Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), for his proactive efforts in repositioning Nigeria’s automotive sector.

Ochonma praised Osanipin’s consistent engagement with industry stakeholders, his advocacy efforts, and his on-the-ground assessments of local assembly operations.

Ochonma also disclosed that during a recent official trip to Kigali, Rwanda, representatives from German auto giant Volkswagen AG renewed their call for the Nigerian government to enact the automotive policy.

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The company highlighted that the policy would provide the regulatory clarity and investment confidence needed by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) seeking to establish operations in Nigeria.

In sharp contrast, Ghana appears to be surging ahead in its auto industry development. The AAAG has officially launched the second edition of the Ghana Automotive Summit, scheduled for June 3, 2024, at the Grand Arena in Accra. Themed “The Future of the Automotive Industry,” the summit aims to promote locally assembled vehicles, foster policy dialogue, and accelerate sectoral growth.

According to AAAG President Jeffrey Oppong Peprah, the event will feature exhibitions by top automotive brands including Toyota, Nissan, and Volkswagen. It will also be open to the general public, automobile enthusiasts, policymakers, and industry professionals.

Peprah underscored the socioeconomic benefits of supporting made-in-Ghana vehicles, noting that local assembly reduces costs and enhances national development.

He also stressed the need for accessible vehicle asset financing solutions, which he said are critical to boosting vehicle ownership and consumer confidence.

While Ghana powers ahead with deliberate policy backing and industry unity, the AAAJ warns that Nigeria must urgently address internal divisions within NAMA and provide the legal and policy framework required to attract serious automotive investment — or risk being left behind in Africa’s auto manufacturing race.