By Samuel Harmon
The much-anticipated second edition of the Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU) will be held this Thursday, July 31, 2025, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Conference Centre in Alausa, Ikeja. The event is expected to attract prominent policymakers, regulators, investors, and stakeholders from across the nation’s automotive value chain.
Jointly organized by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) and the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), the summit has grown into a critical platform for addressing key issues affecting the automotive sector, including policy formulation, local manufacturing, and innovation.
This year’s theme, “Nigeria First: Content as Catalyst for Automotive Economy,” emphasizes the importance of homegrown solutions and domestic value addition in transforming Nigeria’s automotive landscape.
Representatives from major regulatory bodies—including NADDC, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)—are expected to attend. They will be joined by vehicle manufacturers, distributors, financiers, tech startups, logistics providers, and other industry players.
NAJA Chairman, Theodore Opara, said the summit aims to move beyond discussions to practical outcomes that can address long-standing industry challenges such as policy inconsistencies, insufficient local assembly infrastructure, and the urgent shift toward sustainable mobility.
“The second NAISU comes at a critical juncture for the Nigerian auto sector,” Opara stated. “We’re focusing on meaningful resolutions that will push the industry forward, not just another roundtable discussion.”
Chairing the 2025 Planning Committee, Mike Ochonma noted that the upcoming summit would build on the momentum of last year’s successful inaugural event, bringing greater focus to implementation and strategy.
“With the government showing renewed interest in developing the automotive sector and several new investments already underway, this year’s summit offers a timely opportunity to align all stakeholders toward a unified vision,” Ochonma said.
He added that the event will provide a 360-degree view of the ecosystem, from policymakers and manufacturers to fleet managers, tech innovators, and vehicle consumers. Discussions will explore policy gaps, alternative fuel adoption, emerging vehicle technologies, and financing models that can make locally assembled vehicles more accessible.
Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Owan Enoh, will open the event as the Special Guest of Honour, while NADDC Director-General, Joseph Osanipin, is slated to deliver the keynote address, which will focus on creating a roadmap for sustainable and inclusive mobility in Nigeria.
Several leading automotive firms are expected to participate, including Toyota (Nigeria) Limited, Elizade, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM), Nord, Coscharis Motors, Weststar Associates, and Iron Products Industries (IPI).
In addition to the plenary sessions, an auto exhibition will highlight the latest innovations in the Nigerian market—ranging from electric and hybrid vehicles to cutting-edge mobility technologies designed for local road conditions.
As Nigeria seeks to deepen industrialization and reduce reliance on imported vehicles and parts, NAISU 2025 is being seen as a strategic gathering that could help reposition the automotive sector as a pillar of economic diversification, job creation, and technological advancement.
