The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has launched the National Automotive Repository Portal (NARP), a digital platform aimed at modernising Nigeria’s automotive industry by automating licensing processes, strengthening regulatory compliance and providing real-time market intelligence.
The portal, unveiled in Lagos, represents a significant step in the implementation of the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP 2023–2033), the Federal Government’s long-term strategy to develop a competitive domestic automotive manufacturing sector, attract investment and reduce dependence on imported vehicles.
Speaking at the launch, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NADDC, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, represented by the Council’s Head of Policy, Planning and Statistics, Nura Sidi, described the platform as the “digital backbone of Nigeria’s automotive ecosystem.”
According to Osanipin, the repository goes beyond serving as a digital database by providing the technological infrastructure required to support policy implementation, improve regulatory oversight and accelerate industrial growth across the automotive value chain.
One of the platform’s core functions is the digitisation of the licensing process for local vehicle assemblers. By replacing manual applications with an automated system, the council expects to reduce processing times, improve efficiency and lower compliance costs for manufacturers. The streamlined process is also expected to encourage investment in local engineering, component manufacturing and supply chain development.
Beyond licensing, NARP will provide government agencies and industry stakeholders with real-time information on vehicle assembly volumes, production capacity, market supply and pricing trends. Access to reliable industry data is expected to strengthen evidence-based policymaking while giving prospective investors greater visibility into Nigeria’s automotive market.
The platform also introduces a digital verification system that connects relevant regulatory agencies to authenticate vehicle technical specifications, verify locally assembled components and strengthen efforts to curb the importation of substandard vehicles. The move aligns with broader government efforts to improve product standards and consumer protection within the sector.
Several licensed vehicle assemblers have already been integrated into the repository, signalling growing industry acceptance of digital regulatory systems.
The initiative has also received the backing of the Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers’ Association (NAMA). The association’s Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Harpreet Singh, said the repository would improve transparency by providing a verified database of licensed operators while creating greater confidence for global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) considering investment in Nigeria.
Singh noted that the platform would distinguish legitimate manufacturers from non-compliant operators, enhance accountability across the industry and support Nigeria’s ambition to become a regional automotive manufacturing hub rather than a destination for imported used vehicles.
Declaring the portal fully operational, Osanipin urged manufacturers, regulators and other industry participants to adopt NARP as the official compliance platform. He said widespread adoption would strengthen transparency, standardisation and competitiveness, positioning Nigeria’s automotive industry for sustainable growth and increased foreign direct investment over the coming decade.
