Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has called for stronger collaboration between the executive and legislative arms of government to build a globally competitive automotive sector in Nigeria.
The Governor made the call while declaring open a strategic retreat organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Industry in partnership with the National Automobile Design and Development Council (NADDC).
Governor Oborevwori represented by his Chief of Staff, Prince Johnson Erijo, commended the organisers for choosing the theme: “Building a Global Competitive Automotive Sector in Nigeria through Effective Executive-Legislative Partnership.”
Declaring the retreat open, Governor Oborevwori said the retreat was timely, as Nigeria continues to explore opportunities for economic diversification, industrial expansion, and job creation.
According to the Governor, the automotive industry remains a major driver of global economic growth noting that in the European Union, the sector employs over 13.8 million people, accounting for 6.1% of total employment.
He further stated that one in every six businesses depends on the automobile industry for survival and profitability In the United States.
Governor Oborevwori stressed that Nigeria must build a viable automotive industry capable of supporting local production, encouraging technology transfer, conserving foreign exchange, and creating large-scale employment for the youth stressing that this would require sustained policy consistency, investment in infrastructure, skill development, and a business environment that supports growth.
He noted that state governments also have critical roles to play by making their operating environments attractive to investors. In Delta State, he said, the administration is implementing its MORE Agenda to boost industrial growth through infrastructure renewal, enhanced security, public-private partnerships, and decentralized power initiatives.
The Governor highlighted Delta State’s comparative advantages, including abundant oil and gas reserves, large deposits of kaolin, silica, and other industrial minerals useful for manufacturing, as well as the state’s coastal access and four seaports, which provide significant logistical opportunities.
“As a state strategically positioned between the South-South, South-East, and South-West regions, Delta serves as a natural gateway for commerce and industrial activities,” he stated.
In his remarks, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Industry, Hon. Enitan Dolapo Badru, stressed on the need for effective Executive -Legislative partnership so as to build a globally competitive automotive sector in Nigeria.
Hon. Badru noted that the automotive sector was currently faced with lots of missing links, especially the issue of financing, pointing out that the high interest rate of credit facilities was adversely affecting local manufacturers of vehicles and persons hoping to purchase either brand new or Belgium cars.
He said the Committee would want a situation where loans could be obtained at single digit interest rate for investment in the automotive sector, urging the Central Bank of Nigeria, other banks and financial institutions to think along that line in order to make the nation’s automotive sector globally competitive.
In his goodwill message, the Director General, National Automotive Design and Development Council, Mr. Oluwemimo Osanipin, called on the National Assembly to legislate on policies that would encourage investment in the automotive sector.
While describing the sector as key to economic growth, the DG said the critical stakeholders needed to understand and play their roles in building a virile and competitive automotive sector.
In their separate remarks, the Director General, African Parliamentary Resource Center, Dr. John Mutu and the Clerk of Committee, Dr. Usman Ibrahim stressed on the objective of the retreat which seeks to Improve the Nigeria industry for optimal performance.
They highlighted the significance of such engagement which is geared towards enhance the automotive industry in Nigeria.
Topics lined up for discussion at the retreat by various resource persons include: Overview of NADDC: Mandate, Vision, Programmes, Achievements, and Challenges, Overview of the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP): Purpose, Goals, Challenges, Unlocking Financing, Market Access, Local Content for Sustainable Growth of the Automotive Sector.
