The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda by championing the patronage of locally assembled vehicles. This bold endorsement was made during an inspection tour of made-in-Nigeria automobiles at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja.
Adeniyi inspected a variety of vehicles produced by members of the Nigeria Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA), including units from notable indigenous companies such as Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited (IVM), Nord Automobiles, Mikano Motors, and Stallion Group. The visit was aimed at assessing the quality, functionality, and readiness of the vehicles for official use by the Service.
Speaking to newsmen during the inspection, the Customs CG expressed satisfaction with the standard of the vehicles presented, noting that the designs were not only aesthetically pleasing but also functionally reliable. He emphasized that the initiative is consistent with the federal government’s directive that Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) must prioritize locally manufactured products.
“In terms of aesthetics, I am satisfied with what I see here. In terms of functionality, we have been assured by the manufacturers that the vehicles are efficient. What gives me the most joy is that every vehicle here carries a Nigerian imprint, showing they were assembled locally. This is a strong indication that Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Policy is on the right track,” Adeniyi said.
The Customs boss highlighted the importance of setting the pace for other government institutions, stating that the NCS is committed to leading by example in supporting indigenous industries, particularly the automotive sector.
The initiative received accolades from automobile manufacturers who were present at the event. Chairman and CEO of Nord Automobiles, Oluwatobi Ajayi, praised the CG for his proactive approach, even before the government’s policy directive, saying, “You’ve been a champion of made-in-Nigeria vehicles long before now, and we believe you will be the first to fully implement this policy within a federal agency.”
Jonas Ojukwu, Director of Innoson Vehicles, also expressed optimism about the growing interest in locally produced vehicles and assured the NCS of the company’s readiness to meet the Service’s demands with high-quality, durable vehicles.
Industry experts view this development as a major boost for Nigeria’s automotive sector, which has long struggled with competition from foreign imports. The Customs Service’s endorsement is expected to encourage other MDAs to follow suit, thereby driving growth in local manufacturing, increasing job creation, and reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported vehicles.
This step by the Nigeria Customs Service underscores the federal government’s broader economic strategy to foster self-reliance, industrialisation, and economic diversification through active support for Nigerian-made products.
