.As lawmakers form 20-man C’ttee on national security summit
IGNATIUS OKOROCHA, Abuja
The Senate has passed for second reading a Bill seeking to mandate Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of government to prioritise locally manufactured automobiles in their procurement processes.
The Bill, titled Local Automotive Industry Patronage Bill, 2025, was sponsored by Ndubueze Patrick Chiwuba (Imo North) and read for a second time during plenary on Thursday.
Leading the debate, Ndubueze decried Nigeria’s longstanding over-dependence on imported goods, especially automobiles, saying the practice has negatively impacted the naira and undermined local industries.
“We have failed to institutionalize the use of indigenous products, brands, and services in Nigeria and have instead glorified foreign goods of no particular superior quality,” he said. “Today we see the drowning of the Naira, and with every plunge, inflation bites harder.”
The lawmaker lamented that despite the issuance of 54 automobile manufacturing licences, only six companies remain operational due to forex constraints and inadequate infrastructure.
“Several automakers moved to nearby Ghana and are setting up assembly plants there with plans to export the vehicles to Nigeria,” he added.
Ndubueze stressed the urgent need for a sustainable automobile policy that would institutionalise the use of Nigerian-made vehicles, especially in government.
“How do we stem the free fall of the naira if we can not address our appetite for foreign goods?” he asked.
“How do we support the development of indigenous brands if the biggest spender, year on year — government — refuses to buy made-in-Nigeria goods?”
He proposed that at least 75% of official vehicles used by public officers and civil servants should be locally manufactured, not merely assembled.
“This is the first step to saving our economy, protecting our currency, and creating jobs for our people,” he argued.
According to Ndubueze, companies that qualify as local manufacturers must meet conditions such as having at least 70% Nigerian workforce, investing 75% of their R&D budget locally, and possessing full-scale technology like robotic painting machines and electrophoresis systems.
He argued that, “Government support for local industry should be seen as both strategically important, a long-term investment, and a national security imperative.”
The senator cited examples of countries like China, India, and Malaysia, which initially banned imported cars to grow their local automotive sectors. “Today, these countries have perfected their local processes, and we are now importing their products, some of which can not compete with our locally manufactured vehicles,” he said.
Supporting the Bill, Senate Chief Whip Tahir Mongunu said the proposal would give legislative teeth to the Federal Executive Council (FEC)’s earlier directive on prioritising local products.
“This law will insulate the directive from the whims and caprices of subsequent administrations who may want to reverse it,” Mongunu stated.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin also endorsed the bill, saying its passage would “provide jobs for automobile engineers in the country and encourage more investors to move into the sector.”
The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Public Procurement for further legislative input. The committee is expected to report back in four weeks.
Meanwhile, The Senate on Thursday constituted a 20-member committee to plan a national summit on security as part of the lawmakers’ efforts to address Nigeria’s persistent insecurity challenges.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the committee during the plenary after a majority of the senators supported it through voice votes.
Mr Akpabio said the committee would be chaired by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, and Yahaya Abdullahi representing Kebbi North would serve as vice chairman.
Other members of the committee are, Ireti Kingibe (FCT), Adebule Idiat (Lagos), Barinada Mpigi (Rivers), Babangida Hussaini (Jigawa), Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo), Osita Ngwu (Enugu), Tahir Monguno (Borno), Titus Zam (Benue), Ahmed Lawan (Yobe), Abdulaziz Yar’adua (Katsina), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun),
Austin Akobundu (Abia), Shehu Buba (Bauchi), Ahmed Madori (Jigawa), Emmanuel Udende (Benue), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Shuaib Salisu (Ogun), Isah Jibrin (Kogi), and the Clerk of the Senate, Andrew Nwoba.
The committee’s primary objective is to design the framework for the proposed national summit, including setting the agenda, identifying key discussion points, and proposing actionable strategies to tackle Nigeria’s security lapses effectively.
The senate president directed the committee to submit its report within two weeks.
Recall that on May 6th, the Senate during its plenary, made a resolution to organise a two-day national summit on insecurity with a view to proffering solutions to terrorism, insurgency and other security challenges in the country.
The upper chamber made the decision after adopting a motion sponsored by Mr Ibrahim, the senator representing Ondo South senatorial district.
One of the critical issues the upcoming summit intends to address is the leakage of sensitive military information to militant groups, an issue widely believed to be undermining security operations across the country.
This is not the first time a national security summit has been considered by the national assembly.
The 9th National Assembly, under former Senate President Ahmad Lawan and former Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, held a summit in May 2021 to address Nigeria’s security challenges.
Despite the participation of security experts, civil society organisations, and government representatives, the security challenges have remained.
The current 10th Senate has also summoned service chiefs and heads of security agencies numerous times since its inauguration in 2023, and there have been several debates on security in the two chambers of the national assembly, yet insecurity remains a national concern.
Kidnappings, insurgency, and banditry have persisted, with many citizens expressing frustration over the lack of visible progress.
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