Anselm Ilekuba calls for stronger local content in Nigeria's auto industry

At the 3rd Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU) 2026 in Lagos, Anselm Ilekuba, chairman of the Automotive Local Components Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (ALCMAN), urged the federal government to strengthen policies that promote local content and deepen collaboration with indigenous manufacturers. He said the future of Nigeria’s automotive sector depends on building a robust local component manufacturing base rather than relying on imported parts, stating, “There can be no truly sustainable automotive industry without a strong local component manufacturing base.” Ilekuba highlighted the need for consistent government policies, affordable financing, improved infrastructure, technical skills development, quality standards, research and development, and expanded market opportunities. He called for a shift from focusing solely on vehicle assembly to increasing local value addition, measuring progress by the number of components produced domestically. The summit’s theme, “Nigeria’s Clean Mobility Future: The EV and CNG Journey Under the President Bola Tinubu Administration,” underscored the broader push for clean mobility and industrialisation.