Oyeyemi Calls for Long-Term Auto Policy, Increased Road Safety Funding
Former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, has urged the Federal Government to adopt a consistent, long-term automotive industry policy that prioritises local manufacturing and value creation over dependence on revenue from vehicle import duties.
Oyeyemi made the call on Thursday in Lagos while chairing the 30th anniversary celebration of *Motoring World* magazine, themed “Celebrating Three Decades of Excellence in Automotive Journalism.”
He said Nigeria, with over 240 million people, an estimated vehicle fleet of 21 million, a road network exceeding 204,000 kilometres and a fast-growing urban population, possesses one of Africa’s largest automotive markets. However, he argued that policy inconsistency and insufficient support for local production have prevented the country from fully exploiting that potential.
“Investors have come and gone, assembly plants have opened and closed, and the Nigerian consumer continues to drive imported vehicles, mostly second-hand, often poorly maintained and frequently unsafe, when they should be driving vehicles assembled in Nigeria to international standards,” Oyeyemi said.
The former FRSC boss, who also chairs the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, lamented that the National Automotive Industry Development Plan and other frameworks had been repeatedly revised without delivering sustained industrial growth. He noted that the domestic automotive manufacturing sector remains in its infancy, lacking the supply-chain depth, technical workforce and policy stability needed to compete globally.
Oyeyemi further stressed the need for significantly higher funding for road safety, describing it as the most critical human dimension of transportation. He called on all tiers of government to invest strategically in modern traffic technology, improved road design, driver education and capacity building for enforcement agencies, warning that current funding levels have not kept pace with rising vehicular movement, leading to increased crashes, fatalities and economic losses.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, disclosed that the Federal Government is reviewing the national automotive policy to accommodate emerging technologies and align the sector with global trends. Represented by Samuel Adetoro, Desk Officer for the Auto Industry, she said the review aims to position Nigeria’s automotive ecosystem for sustainable mobility and industrial development, describing the industry as a critical pillar of the country’s industrialisation agenda.
In his keynote, the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Chief Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, called for stronger collaboration among government, industry stakeholders and the media to accelerate automotive industrialisation. Represented by Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs Susan Bisong-Taiwo, he highlighted initiatives on electric vehicle development, Compressed Natural Gas conversion, local content promotion and skills acquisition, stressing that Nigeria must keep pace with the global shift towards smart manufacturing and green transportation.
The celebration paid glowing tribute to *Motoring World* Publisher, Mr Femi Owoeye, for his pioneering role in automotive journalism. Oyeyemi described the decision to establish a specialised publication in 1996 as bold and visionary, noting that the magazine has become a repository of Nigeria’s automotive history and an institution of national importance. He said its three-decade archive represents invaluable institutional memory that should help guide future policy.
The event featured the presentation of awards, with Oyeyemi receiving the *Motoring World’s Road Safety Leadership & Legacy Award*. CFAO Motors Nigeria Limited was honoured with the *Mobility Innovation Award*, received by Deputy Managing Director and LCCI Automobile Group Chairman, Kunle Jaiyesimi, while Coscharis Group took home the *Auto Business Excellence Award*, received by General Manager of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Abiona Babarinde. Dignitaries in attendance included traditional ruler Oba Dr Olusegun Aderemi, the Atayero of Aramoko Kingdom, and Carloha Nigeria General Manager Felix Mahan, among other industry leaders and enthusiasts.