By Our Reporter

The Federal Government has directed ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to purchase vehicles exclusively from licensed local assemblers or their authorised retailers, as part of efforts to boost domestic manufacturing and reduce dependence on imported vehicles.

The directive, issued under the Nigeria First Policy, requires government agencies seeking to procure foreign-assembled vehicles to demonstrate that no suitable locally assembled alternative is available and obtain direct presidential approval.

Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, disclosed this in Abuja, urging local vehicle manufacturers to expand production capacity, improve product quality and strengthen after-sales services to meet the government’s demand.

He said Nigeria’s vehicle assembly plants have a combined annual production capacity of 370,520 vehicles, adding that prioritising locally assembled vehicles in public procurement would stimulate job creation, reduce imports and encourage the domestic production of automotive components.

“We are fundamentally shifting the Nigeria First Policy. All vehicles procured by ministries, departments and agencies, including project utility vehicles, must be sourced exclusively from licensed local assemblers or their authorised retailers.

“Also, no ministry, department or agency may procure a foreign-assembled vehicle unless it explicitly proves the absence of a domestic alternative and obtains direct presidential clearance.

“Every vehicle supplied to the government must carry a traceable Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) verified through the NADDC. Any supply outside licensed local assembly lines will attract immediate regulatory sanctions, including blacklisting and licence revocation,” he explained

The policy also introduces stricter compliance requirements for vehicle suppliers, with the government insisting that every vehicle delivered to public institutions must have a traceable Vehicle Identification Number verified by the NADDC.

The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has warned local assemblers that substandard vehicles, inadequate maintenance support and breaches of procurement regulations could attract sanctions.

The Director-General of the BPP, Adebowale Adedokun, urged automotive manufacturers to invest in modern technology, quality assurance and efficient maintenance services to meet government requirements.

The move is expected to strengthen the domestic automotive industry by directing public-sector vehicle purchases towards local assembly plants, while encouraging manufacturers to improve their competitiveness and service delivery.

The policy also places greater responsibility on local assemblers to demonstrate their capacity to meet government demand in terms of production, quality and after-sales support.

(CHANNELS)

By Our Reporter

2027: INEC drops Pantami from final list of Gombe governorship candidates
The name of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, is absent from the final list of candidates cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the February 6, 2027, governorship election in Gombe State.

INEC released the list containing 16 candidates, including Bala Bello Tinka of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Babayo Ardo Kumo of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).

Other candidates on the list are Zubairu Mu’azu Halilu of the Labour Party, Lamela L. Silas of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Ibrahim Jalo Abubakar of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Adamu Mohammed Ma’aji of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), among others.

Pantami’s exclusion is notable because his name featured on INEC’s provisional list published on August 29.

The former minister had emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate after defecting from the APC on May 19.

However, his initial emergence as the party’s candidate was challenged in court, with a Federal High Court nullifying the primary election and ordering a fresh exercise.

READ ALSO:Again, Pantami emerges PDP guber candidate in Gombe rerun primary

Pantami subsequently won the court-ordered rerun primary conducted on September 29, polling 2,054 votes to defeat Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki Mailantarki and Usman Aliyu Garry.

Earlier, a Federal High Court sitting in Gombe had, on September 24, nullified his initial emergence from the May 26 primary election.

His candidacy also faced uncertainty following the Supreme Court’s September 24 judgment restoring Sections 77(5), (6), (7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026.

The provisions became central to questions surrounding the eligibility of political parties and their candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.

The Supreme Court had barred political parties from fielding candidates whose names were not included in the membership registers submitted to INEC within the stipulated period.

Pantami’s absence from the final list raises questions about the status of his governorship ambition following the legal disputes surrounding his emergence as the PDP candidate.

By Our Reporter

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has attributed the power outage affecting several parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and neighbouring areas to a technical fault on the 330kV Shiroro-Katampe transmission line.

The company disclosed this in a public announcement dated October 9, 2026, assuring affected customers that efforts were underway to restore electricity supply.

According to AEDC, the fault occurred on the transmission line belonging to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), disrupting electricity supply across several locations.

The affected areas include Garki, parts of Apo, Asokoro, Wuse Zones 1–7, Wuse 2, Wuye, Jabi, Utako, Jahi, Life Camp, Gwarinpa, Kubwa, Dawaki, Dutse, Dei-Dei, Suleja and their environs.

“The technical team of TCN is working to rectify the fault and restore grid stability,” the company stated.

AEDC further assured customers that electricity supply would be restored to all affected areas once the fault had been cleared.

“Rest assured, full power supply will be restored to all affected customer areas as soon as the line is cleared,” the announcement added.

The electricity distribution company apologised for the inconvenience caused by the disruption and appealed to customers to remain patient while the technical team worked to resolve the problem.

“We deeply regret the inconvenience this interruption may cause and appreciate your patience and understanding,” AEDC said.