Ecowas leaders push for stronger regional auto industry
The Economic Community of West African States is renewing efforts to make West Africa a competitive hub for automotive manufacturing. At a recent forum in Abuja, regional leaders and industry stakeholders discussed ways to improve policy implementation and attract investment. Dr. Kalilou Sylla and Senator John Owan Enoh highlighted the need for regulatory harmonisation and regional cooperation. Nigeria also pledged to open its automotive testing and training facilities to all ECOWAS member states.
What we know
- The ECOWAS Regional Automotive Industry Development Forum was held in Abuja from August 4 to 6.
- ECOWAS has a regional automotive policy framework, but its implementation has been uneven across member states.
- West Africa currently has seven vehicle assembly plants with a combined capacity of over 100,000 vehicles annually.
- Chief Innocent Chukwuma called for policy certainty and stable regulations to boost investor confidence.
- The forum ended with a commitment to harmonise regulations and work towards producing 50,000 locally assembled vehicles annually by 2028.
