By Adaobi Rhema Oguejiofor
Lanre Shittu Motors (LSM) is spearheading efforts to position Nigeria as a major hub for vehicle manufacturing in Africa, a vision that could mark a turning point for the nation’s automotive industry.
The company’s Managing Director, Taiwo Shittu, made this declaration during the visit of Oscar Yu, General Manager of Chinese automotive giant JAC Motors, to LSM’s flagship assembly plant in Lagos.
Shittu stated that Nigeria’s large population of over 200 million people, youthful workforce, and strategic geographic location give it a unique advantage to emerge as a global player in automobile production.
“With the commitment of our partners at JAC and the right government policies, we can transform Lagos into a world-class automotive manufacturing ecosystem,” he said.
The visit, Shittu explained, represents a renewed chapter in the decade-long partnership between LSM and JAC Motors. It also signals a decisive shift towards deeper industrial integration, greater local value addition, and regional expansion.
According to him, the partnership will not only enhance Nigeria’s manufacturing capacity but also create jobs, boost technology transfer, and reduce dependence on imported vehicles. He stressed that the private sector and its international partners are ready to take bold steps if the government provides the enabling environment.
“Nigeria must be ready with the right infrastructure, regulations, and incentives to unlock the industry’s transformative potential,” Shittu added.
During the visit, the JAC Motors delegation toured the LSM assembly facility and expressed satisfaction with the level of technological advancement achieved so far. Yu remarked that Nigeria’s demographic and economic prospects mirror China’s early industrialisation journey, suggesting a promising future for the sector.
Both executives also raised concerns about the unregulated influx of used vehicle imports, describing it as a major obstacle to sustainable automotive development in the country. They called for stronger policies to promote local assembly and protect domestic manufacturers.
With renewed cooperation between LSM and JAC Motors and growing optimism within Nigeria’s industrial sector, stakeholders believe the country may finally be steering toward an era of automotive self-reliance and global competitiveness.
