Nigerians spent approximately N6.54 trillion on car spare parts and an additional N2.7 trillion on imported cars in 2025, according to the Federal Government, highlighting the enormous economic potential in the nation’s automotive aftersales and component manufacturing industry.
This was disclosed by Joseph Osanipin, Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), at the 2026 West Africa Automotive Show (WAAS), which took place in Lagos under the theme “Strengthening Automotive After-Sales Support Ecosystems for Sustainable Mobility in West Africa.”
According to Osanipin, the numbers demonstrated how urgently Nigeria must prioritise the production of local component parts and bolster its aftersales ecosystem in order to lessen reliance on imports and generate employment.
He claims that although Nigeria spent about N2.7 trillion in 2025 on imported automobiles, including assembled and fully constructed vehicles, the amount spent on spare parts was much higher.
Nigeria spent N6.54 trillion on replacement parts in 2025 alone. Every year, we spend between 12 and 15 percent of the national budget on spare parts,” he stated.
He went on to say that Nigeria spends more on spare parts annually than the combined budgets of several African nations, characterising the industry as a significant economic opportunity for manufacturers and investors.
Osanipin emphasised that the strength of the aftersales market, rather than just car sales, is what makes the automotive industry truly sustainable.
The ability to manufacture and market automobiles is not the real litmus test for our industrial capacity. Whether we are able to maintain the cars is the real test. Maintaining is more important than selling, he said.
According to the NADDC boss, after-sale services include workshops, the distribution of spare parts, technicians, equipment, logistics, and financing systems that are necessary to keep cars in good working order.
He claims that since maintenance expenses over a car’s lifetime frequently surpass the initial purchase price, car ownership extends well beyond the point of sale.
It’s only a brief moment when you exchange keys. However, the vehicle’s lifespan is determined by what transpires after that point,” he continued.
According to Osanipin, the majority of cars are used for up to 15 years, during which time tyres, lubricants, and mechanical parts must be replaced on a regular basis.
He cautioned that if Nigeria does not actively develop local component manufacturing capacity, it could lose out on opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He clarified that nations that can show that at least 40% of a component is sourced locally would have duty-free access to export such goods throughout Africa under the AfCFTA “Rule of Origin” framework.
He claims that nations like Ghana, Togo, Morocco, and South Africa are already setting themselves up to seize the opportunities.
Other nations can manufacture those parts in large quantities and import them into Nigeria duty-free if we don’t seize the opportunity. What then becomes of our young people and our industries? They won’t have any jobs,” he cautioned.
The Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPAMDA), which has over 10,000 members involved in spare parts trading nationwide, was also acknowledged by Osanipin for its contribution.
He emphasised that the future of Nigeria’s automotive industry depends on robust aftersales support and local manufacturing capabilities, and he urged both domestic and foreign investors to focus their investments on component parts production.
“Aftersales is the economy of automobile survival and sustainability, particularly in developing nations like Nigeria.” “We are talking about aftersales when we talk about consumer confidence and trust in automotive products,” he stated.
Luqman Mamudu, chairman of WAAS Conference 2026, stated that this year’s theme “speaks directly to one of the most critical pillars of the automotive industry – the ability not only to sell vehicles, but to sustain them efficiently, safely, and affordably throughout their lifecycle.”
“The strength of our after-sales ecosystem—from qualified technicians and state-of-the-art workshops to authentic spare parts distribution, digital diagnostics, customer support systems, training institutions, and dependable service networks—will be crucial to the future of mobility throughout West Africa.” Sustainable mobility cannot be accomplished without these pillars.
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