NADDC, BPP tighten vehicle procurement rules, prioritises local assembly

The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) have introduced a new framework mandating all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to prioritise locally assembled vehicles in public procurement. The town bodies said the move is aimed at strengthening domestic manufacturing and aligning government spending with national economic priorities. Speaking on the implementation of Nigeria First Policy in Abuja yesterday, Director-General of the BPP, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, said the implementation of the circular on automotive procurement marks a major shift in Nigeria’s procurement architecture. He said public expenditure must now actively support local production, industrial growth and job creation.

Adedokun stressed that Nigeria First policy requires stricter compliance across procurement planning, bidding, evaluation, contract award and contract management processes, with clear obligations for sourcing vehicles only from eligible local assemblers approved by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC). According to him, automotive procurement will now be tied to verifiable eligibility criteria, traceable Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) documentation, and enhanced reporting mechanisms, with joint compliance monitoring between the BPP and NADDC where necessary. Adedokun warned that misrepresentation, false claims, or procurement outside the approved framework would attract sanctions under the Public Procurement Act and other applicable financial regulations, adding that enforcement would be strict. He said the initiative is designed not only to ensure value for money but also to deepen local industrial capacity, reduce procurement abuse, and improve transparency in public spending. “We are aligning procurement with national development priorities. Government spending must now directly contribute to industrial growth and measurable national benefit,” he said. The BPP DG urged all accounting officers and procurement units across MDAs to comply fully with the new directive, noting that the agency would continue to work with stakeholders including the NADDC, Budget Office of the Federation and other oversight bodies to ensure effective implementation. He added that the policy had already begun attracting interest from global automotive investors, while encouraging improvements among local assemblers in quality, standards and competitiveness. Also speaking, Director-General of the NADDC, Joseph Osanipin, described the policy as a turning point for Nigeria’s automotive industry, saying it would reduce reliance on imported vehicles and stimulate domestic production. He said the framework would help strengthen assembly operations, expand technical capacity, and generate employment across the value chain, while ensuring that only verified assemblers participate in government procurement. Osanipin added that the use of VIN verification and regulatory oversight would guarantee quality assurance and accountability in the sector, stressing that procurement had become a tool for economic development. He urged procuring entities to align their procurement plans with the new policy, describing it as a long-term investment in Nigeria’s industrial future and youth employment.