Spare parts dealers seek FG’s partnership to boost auto industry 

The Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPMDA) has intensified calls for a strategic partnership with the Federal Government as part of efforts to reposition Nigeria’s automotive aftermarket industry as a major contributor to industrial growth, local manufacturing and economic development. President of the association, Ngozi Emechebe, said ASPMDA was undergoing a major transformation […]

The Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPMDA) has intensified calls for a strategic partnership with the Federal Government as part of efforts to reposition Nigeria’s automotive aftermarket industry as a major contributor to industrial growth, local manufacturing and economic development.

President of the association, Ngozi Emechebe, said ASPMDA was undergoing a major transformation from a traditional trading cluster into a modern automotive business hub capable of supporting Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda.

Speaking with journalists during the 2026 West Africa Automotive Show in Lagos, Emechebe said the association’s “Keep Nigeria Moving” campaign was focused on strengthening collaboration between government institutions, regulators, manufacturers and automotive operators to deepen industry development.

According to him, ASPMDA has evolved beyond the era of unstructured roadside trading and now operates from a more organised and modern facility designed to attract serious business partnerships and support national economic growth.

“For years, I envisioned ASPMDA becoming a central force in Nigeria’s automotive industry,” he said, adding, “Today, we are no longer operating like an informal market. We have built a highly organised system with a world-class environment that can support serious industrial partnerships.”

Emechebe disclosed that discussions were already ongoing with the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) on areas of cooperation aimed at strengthening local automotive production, improving spare parts distribution and supporting indigenous businesses within the sector.

He explained that the proposed partnership would focus on policy support, operational frameworks and industry regulations capable of creating more opportunities for local auto parts dealers and manufacturers.

The ASPMDA president also commended the Federal Government’s vehicle financing initiatives targeted at Nigerian youths, describing them as important steps toward improving access to mobility and stimulating activities across the automotive value chain.

Addressing concerns over counterfeit and substandard automotive parts, Emechebe said the association had intensified efforts to sanitise the market through stricter enforcement measures and stronger collaboration with regulatory agencies.

According to him, office spaces have already been allocated within the ASPMDA complex for government agencies responsible for monitoring fake products, enforcing standards and protecting consumers from adulterated automotive components.

“We are determined to make integrity a culture within this market,” he stated. “Anyone bringing products here must be ready to stand by their quality and defend them before the end user. Counterfeiting and adulteration will not be tolerated.”

Although he declined to specify the exact penalties for offenders, Emechebe warned that severe sanctions awaited individuals found dealing in fake or substandard products within the market.

He further advocated stronger government support for local manufacturing of automotive components, insisting that Nigerian-made spare parts could outperform imported alternatives if produced according to standards suited to local operating conditions.

“Locally produced components can even serve Nigerians better than some imported products,” he said. “What matters is maintaining standards that suit Nigerian roads, climate and usage conditions.”

Emechebe disclosed that some ASPMDA members were already involved in automotive component production, while broader manufacturing partnerships could be explored in the future to expand local capacity and industrial development.

However, he cautioned investors and operators against poorly structured joint ventures, warning that many partnerships fail because of weak management structures, inadequate accountability systems and lack of transparency.

The exhibition attracted regulators, manufacturers, distributors, dealers and investors from across the automotive value chain who gathered to examine emerging opportunities and challenges shaping the future of the industry in Nigeria and the wider West African region.