The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to urgently complete and operationalise key automotive development projects in Sokoto State, warning that continued delays undermine youth empowerment efforts and waste scarce public resources.
The resolution followed a motion moved by Sokoto lawmaker, Abdussamad Dasuki on Wednesday, who drew the House’s attention to the stalled implementation of projects initiated under the National Automotive Design and Development Council.
The council, established by Act No. 83 of 2014 under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, is mandated to drive the growth of Nigeria’s automotive industry through the National Automotive Industry Development Plan.
Nigeria’s automotive policy under the NAIDP was introduced to reduce dependence on imported vehicles, promote local manufacturing, and build technical capacity through skills development and industrial infrastructure. As part of this strategy, the NADDC began establishing automotive service hubs and training centres across the country to support vehicle diagnostics, maintenance, component testing, and workforce development.
These facilities were also conceived as a response to rising youth unemployment, particularly in northern states, by creating pathways for technical training, small business growth, and participation in the automotive value chain.
Speaking on the bills, Dasuki noted that, in line with this mandate, automotive service hubs were sited in Dogondaji and Bodinga in Sokoto State.
He, however, expressed concern that the Bodinga Automotive Service Hub, completed and handed over to the Federal Government in March 2023 at a cost exceeding one billion naira, has remained non-operational.
He also decried the abandonment of the Dogondaji Automotive Youth Training Centre, which was designed to complement the service hub by equipping young people with practical skills.
According to the lawmaker, “the continued neglect of the projects undermines the objectives of the national automotive policy, denies citizens economic opportunities, and risks the deterioration of critical infrastructure.”
Adopting the motion, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the NADDC to ensure the immediate completion of the Dogondaji training centre and prioritise the effective utilisation and maintenance of public infrastructure.
Lawmakers also called for the immediate operationalisation of the Bodinga Automotive Service Hub to enable youths, artisans, and automotive service providers in Sokoto State to benefit from the facility.
In addition, the House mandated its Committee on Commerce to inspect both projects, investigate the causes of delay and abandonment, and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.