A Push for National Pride: Nigerian Senator Proposes Bill to Boost Local Automotive Industry
Government Approaches Mandatory Adoption of Domestically Manufactured Vehicles for Government Purchases in Nigeria
Here's some dirty truth about Nigeria's autos: We're a nation drowning in foreign cars, draining our currency dry, and starving our local industries like a junkyard vulture on a rotting carcass. But it doesn't have to be this way, says Senator Patrick Ndubueze.
That's right, the cat's out of the bag! Ndubueze, our lawmaker from Imo North, has proposed a bill called the "Local Automotive Industry Patronage Bill, 2025" to fix this mess. He ain't mincing words, folks. This bill is all about making our Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) prioritize the purchase of homegrown vehicles over imported knockoffs.
Born in October 2024, this bill's advanced to the second reading stage in the Senate. And in typical Senate fashion, it's stirring up quite the commotion.
Ndubueze is putting his foot down, arguing that our persistent love for foreign cars—these worthless imports that are no better, mind you—is a major factor in the naira's constant nose dive and our local industries' downfall.
"Any country that dreams of steady economic growth and development needs a policy that supports local production," he says. "Because when we make goods and services here, we cut down on imports and beef up exports."
He's got a point. With more than 50 auto manufacturing licenses issued in Nigeria, it's a damn shame that only six companies are still standing due to infrastructure woes and foreign exchange shortages. And to add insult to injury, some of these local automobile firms have even upped stakes and moved their operations to Ghana, catering to us poor souls in Nigeria.
"How do we halt the naira's free fall if we can't curb our appetite for foreign goods?" Ndubueze queries. "How can we foster the growth of indigenous brands if the biggest spender, the government, refuses to back homegrown products?"
Well, Senator Ndubueze has a solution: Make it mandatory for public officers and civil servants to buy locally made vehicles that are actually made in Nigeria, not just assembled like a poorly put-together jigsaw puzzle. That's the first step to saving our economy, protecting the naira, and creating jobs for our people, he claims.
But what does it take to be considered a local manufacturer under this new law? Ndubueze proposes stringent requirements. Companies must have at least 70 percent of their workforce made up of Nigerians, spend 75 percent of their research and development budget on local projects, and own advanced technology such as robotic painting machines and electrophoresis systems.
"Supporting local industry is both a smart investment, a long-term strategy, and a matter of national security," Ndubueze asserts. He fondly points to China, India, and Malaysia—countries that once banned imported cars in their early days to jumpstart their domestic automotive industries. Today, those countries produce world-class vehicles that compete with Nigerian-made options.
Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin support this bill, which they believe will create jobs for automobile engineers, draw more investors to the sector, and fortify our economy and the naira.
So, keep your eyes peeled—this bill's moving through the Senate, and soon it may become the law of the land. Let's all embrace our Nigerian pride and do our part to support local industries!
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- Senator Patrick Ndubueze, the lawmaker from Imo North, proposes the "Local Automotive Industry Patronage Bill, 2025" to curb Nigeria's excessive reliance on foreign cars, which he believes is a significant factor in the naira's consistent devaluation and the decline of local industries.
- In order to be considered a local manufacturer under this new law, companies must meet stringent requirements, such as having at least 70 percent of their workforce composed of Nigerians, spending 75 percent of their research and development budget on local projects, and owning advanced technology like robotic painting machines and electrophoresis systems.
- Some of the supporters of this bill include Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who believe it will create jobs for automobile engineers, attract more investors to the sector, and boost the economy and the value of the naira.
- According to Senator Ndubueze, if public officers and civil servants are mandated to purchase locally made vehicles, it would be the first step towards saving the economy, stabilizing the naira, and generating jobs for the citizens of Nigeria.
- The persistent love for foreign cars and the lack of support for homegrown automotive products by the government have been identified as substantial obstacles hindering the growth of indigenous brands and worsening the state of the Nigerian economy and the naira's value.
