Nigeria’s Auto and tourism sectors are joining forces. The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) have begun talks on a partnership to move tourists in locally assembled vehicles and buses.

NTDA Director-General, Dr. Olayiwola Awakan, led a delegation to NADDC headquarters in Abuja on Monday to pitch the collaboration. He said transport is the backbone of tourism, and NTDA’s job is to sell Nigeria’s culture, sites, and hospitality to local and foreign visitors.

The centerpiece is NTDA’s proposed “Tour Ride” Initiative. The plan is to deploy dedicated fleets of Nigerian-assembled vehicles to pick up tourists from arrival at the airport straight to their destinations.

Dr. Awakan said NTDA is also working with FAAN and security agencies to set up Tourism Information Desks at airports. The goal is better safety and smoother mobility for visitors across the country.

NADDC Director-General, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, welcomed the idea, calling it a “practical avenue” to link automotive manufacturing with tourism growth.

He said NADDC will engage vehicle manufacturers, assemblers, and fleet operators to supply vehicles for tourism services. He added that NADDC’s existing auto shows and motor rallies can double as platforms to showcase Nigeria’s destinations and auto capabilities.

“NTDA’s expertise in marketing Nigeria as a destination presents an opportunity to elevate such automotive-based tourism activities to national and international levels,” Osanipin noted.

Both agencies agreed to set up a joint working committee. The committee will map out areas of collaboration and draft an implementation framework.

The expected impact is a stronger tourism mobility, higher demand for locally assembled vehicles, more domestic travel, and added value to Nigeria’s economy through synergy between two key sectors.