The Federal Government has warned ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) against procuring vehicles from suppliers, manufacturers and importers not registered with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), warning that violations could attract prosecution.
The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr Adebowale Adesanya, gave the warning on Friday, October 9, 2026, at a joint news conference organised by the BPP and NADDC in Abuja.
Adesanya said the measure was part of efforts to enforce the Federal Government’s Nigeria First policy, which seeks to promote locally manufactured products, strengthen domestic industries and reduce dependence on imports.
He said the BPP would not issue a certificate of no objection to any government agency seeking to purchase vehicles from suppliers, manufacturers or importers that had not met NADDC’s registration and specification requirements.
“BPP will not give a no objection to any government agency that wants to buy a vehicle from any supplier, manufacturer or importer that has not passed through the specification and requirement of NADDC,” he said.
“If they do, it is a criminal offence. It is subject to prosecution.”
Adesanya explained that NADDC was responsible for registering vehicle manufacturers and maintaining an updated database of approved suppliers, while the BPP ensured that government agencies complied with public procurement regulations.
He said the policy encouraged partnerships between local companies and foreign manufacturers to build domestic production capacity, promote technology transfer and strengthen Nigeria’s automotive industry.
“So, what we are doing now is to say partner with the local firm and the foreign to build your own capacity,” he said.
The BPP director-general added that the Public Procurement Act 2007 provided preferential treatment for locally manufactured products, even when their prices were slightly higher than those of imported alternatives.
“The law is saying even if the cost of the locally made, manufactured, is slightly higher than the one that is coming from abroad, we will still give it to the local man,” Adesanya said.
According to him, the preference for locally manufactured vehicles would help create jobs, expand factories and increase domestic production, potentially offsetting initial cost differences through wider economic benefits.
He also disclosed that the Bank of Industry would support the automotive sector with financing at lower interest rates to help manufacturers expand their operations.
To ensure compliance, Adesanya said a joint monitoring and evaluation committee had been established to track vehicle procurement by government agencies and identify possible violations.
He added that the Federal Executive Council had directed MDAs to submit monthly and quarterly reports on their procurement activities to the BPP.
According to him, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) were also requesting procurement records to monitor compliance with the policy.
Also speaking at the event, the Director-General of NADDC, Joseph Osanipin, said Nigeria had the capacity to increase local vehicle production and reduce its reliance on imported vehicles.
On the country’s current level of domestic production, Osanipin said Nigeria produced less than eight per cent of the vehicles it used.
He said NADDC aimed to progressively increase local production, with a target of meeting 70 per cent of the country’s vehicle requirements.
The policy forms part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to strengthen local manufacturing, support industrial development and ensure that public spending contributes more directly to the domestic economy.