As it marks three decades of chronicling Nigeria’s automotive landscape, Motoring World is pushing for a strategic overhaul of the industry’s information architecture, warning that poor data transparency and restricted access are stalling growth, deterring investment, and weakening global competitiveness.
Ahead of its 30th anniversary celebration slated for June 4, the Publisher of Motoring World and CEO of Motoring World Communications Limited, Femi Owoeye, said the sector’s long-standing opacity has become a structural risk to its future.
“For 30 years, we have tracked the industry’s trajectory, but one issue has remained unresolved — the absence of reliable, accessible data and an entrenched culture of information control”, Owoeye said.
Positioning transparency as a critical growth lever, he contrasted Nigeria’s situation with more mature markets like South Africa, where consistent publication of industry-wide sales and performance data drives investor confidence and policy clarity.
In Nigeria, however, automakers, franchise holders, and dealers continue to treat sales figures as proprietary, a practice Owoeye described as short-sighted.
“What may seem like a competitive strategy is, in reality, limiting visibility, discouraging investment, and constraining informed decision-making across the value chain”, he noted.
He also flagged institutional gaps, particularly with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), citing delays and limited scope in automotive data releases. As of late April 2026, first-quarter figures remain unavailable, with no comprehensive reporting on vehicle production or market performance.
“This data vacuum creates blind spots for journalists, analysts, and policymakers, undermining effective planning and sectoral growth”, he said.
Beyond data scarcity, Owoeye highlighted inequitable access to industry information, pointing to a pattern of selective media engagement that excludes segments of the motoring press, including members of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association.
“The result is a fragmented information ecosystem where some journalists have privileged access while others depend solely on curated press releases. That undermines credibility and weakens the industry’s narrative”, he stressed.
He warned that the ripple effects extend far beyond the media, impacting consumer awareness, investor sentiment, and policy formulation.
“When data is scarce and access is restricted, journalism becomes speculative, consumers are left in the dark, investors become cautious, and policymakers operate without full insight. Ultimately, the industry pays the price”, Owoeye added.
Calling for coordinated action, he urged stakeholders, including the Nigeria Automobile Manufacturers Association (NAMA), to institutionalise periodic data disclosure, while encouraging the Federal Government to embed transparency incentives within industry policies.
“Transparency is not a competitive disadvantage, it is a growth enabler. If Nigeria’s automotive industry is to scale and compete globally, openness and collaboration must become the norm”, he concluded.
Motoring World’s 30th anniversary event is expected to convene key players across the automotive ecosystem, including manufacturers, assemblers, regulators, and policy drivers, in what is shaping up to be a defining moment for industry reflection and reform.
Motoring World Communications Limited is a leading Nigerian automotive media and communications company, providing in-depth coverage, analysis, and insights into the automotive and allied sectors for over 30 years.