Nigeria Spends N6.54tn on Vehicle Spare Parts – FG
Nigerians spent a staggering N6.54 trillion on vehicle spare parts in 2025. This figure represents nearly 15 per cent of the national budget and dwarfs the N2.7 trillion spent on actual vehicle imports. Joseph Osanipin, head of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, revealed these numbers at the 2026 West Africa Automotive Show. The data suggests that Nigeria is a nation of mechanics rather than manufacturers. We are pouring more money into keeping old engines alive than buying new ones. This trend highlights a massive, untapped market for local component manufacturing.
The true cost of vehicle ownership in Nigeria begins after the keys change hands. Most cars on Nigerian roads remain in use for fifteen years or more. During this lifespan, the cost of tyres, lubricants, and mechanical repairs often exceeds the initial purchase price. Mr Osanipin argues that the strength of an automotive industry lies in maintenance, not just sales. Without a robust after-sales ecosystem, mobility in West Africa remains fragile and expensive. Nigeria currently relies on a vast network of importers to fill this gap.
This reliance on imports is a missed economic opportunity of continental proportions. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offers duty-free access to those who source 40 per cent of their components locally. Nations like Morocco and South Africa are already moving to dominate this space. If Nigeria fails to manufacture its own parts, it will become a dumping ground for duty-free components from its neighbours. We risk exporting jobs and capital to countries that have prioritised their factories. Our youth will continue to trade parts that they could be making.
The local trade in parts is already massive but remains largely unorganised. The Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPAMDA) boasts over 10,000 members across the country. These traders form the backbone of the current system, but they deal mostly in foreign goods. The government wants to shift this energy from trading to production. Local manufacturing would reduce the pressure on foreign exchange and lower the cost of repairs for the average driver. It is a necessary shift for a country with over 200 million people on the move.
Logistics and technical skill remain the primary hurdles to this industrial shift. A functional after-sales market requires modern workshops, digital diagnostics, and a steady supply of genuine parts. Luqman Mamudu, chairman of the WAAS conference, noted that sustainable mobility is impossible without these foundations. We need a reliable service network that extends beyond the major cities. Currently, many Nigerian drivers rely on guesswork and substandard parts. This inefficiency adds a hidden tax to every journey made on our roads.
Investors are now being urged to look at components rather than just assembly plants. The market for batteries, filters, and brake pads is guaranteed by the sheer volume of vehicles already in the country. Producing these items locally is a matter of economic survival. The current model of importing everything from spark plugs to windscreens is unsustainable in a volatile currency market. If we can maintain these vehicles for two decades, we should be able to build the parts that keep them running. The choice is between industrial growth or perpetual repair.