Bennett Oghifo
The battle for Nigeria’s prime automotive honours has begun, with main automobile producers, distributors and rising mobility manufacturers set to compete for the prestigious Car of the Year award and different main classes at the nineteenth Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) International Auto Awards.
The opening of nominations has set the stage for what guarantees to be a eager contest amongst business gamers, with the winners anticipated to emerge at the grand finale scheduled for December 3, 2026, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The awards, which recognise excellence throughout Nigeria’s automotive business, will highlight excellent performances in automobile manufacturing and meeting, industrial transportation, alternative-energy mobility, after-sales providers, automotive distribution and particular person contributions to sector improvement.
The Car of the Year class is predicted to draw explicit consideration as vehicle manufacturers intensify competitors for market share in an business more and more formed by altering client preferences, technological innovation and demand for extra reasonably priced and environment friendly automobiles.
Chairman of the 2026 NAJA Awards Planning Committee, Frank Kintum, stated the committee was dedicated to delivering an occasion that mirrored the rising significance of Nigeria’s automotive business.
He described the awards as an essential platform for recognising people, manufacturers and organisations whose contributions had superior the sector.
Kintum stated the nineteenth version was being organised to surpass earlier ceremonies in scale and presentation whereas sustaining the credibility {and professional} requirements related to the awards.
According to the organisers, competing merchandise, manufacturers and personalities might be evaluated beneath related classes, with winners decided in accordance with the affiliation’s authorised award modalities.
NAJA Chairman, Theodore Opara, stated the awards weren’t designed solely to have fun dominant market gamers but in addition to recognise organisations and people that had demonstrated measurable excellence and made significant contributions to the automotive ecosystem.
He stated the credibility of the analysis course of had strengthened the awards’ relevance as a reference level for stakeholders throughout the business.
The 2026 version comes at a important interval for Nigeria’s automotive sector, as producers and distributors take care of the rising adoption of alternative-energy automobiles, efforts to broaden native meeting, evolving authorities insurance policies and growing demand for improved after-sales providers.
These developments are anticipated to affect this yr’s competitors, significantly in classes protecting electrical automobiles, compressed pure gasoline (CNG) mobility, industrial automobiles and native manufacturing.
The end result of the 2025 version supplies a sign of the depth of competitors anticipated this yr.
At the 18th NAJA International Auto Awards, held on December 16, 2025, at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, the Jetour Dashing emerged Nigeria’s Car of the Year, beating the Changan CS55 and Chery Tiggo to say the prime honour.
Mikano Motors additionally recorded a significant success, rising Auto Company of the Year, whereas its Changan CS55 received the Midsize SUV of the Year class.
Toyota Nigeria’s Isolo facility was named Workshop of the Year, whereas the Toyota Hilux and Toyota Hiace received Pick-Up of the Year and Minibus of the Year awards, respectively.
In the industrial automobile phase, Dangote Sinotruk emerged Heavy-Duty Truck Brand of the Year, whereas Iron Products Industries Limited received Truck Assembler/Body Builder of the Year.
Lanre Shittu Motors was recognised as Truck Plant of the Year, whereas Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing secured Passenger Car Assembly Plant of the Year.
The alternative-energy phase additionally featured prominently, with SAGLEV successful EV Brand of the Year and Jet Automobiles named CNG Vehicle Assembler of the Year. NORD Automobiles emerged Fastest Growing Auto Brand of the Year.
Carloha Nigeria received Auto Aftersales Company of the Year and Pre-owned Company of the Year, whereas Winpart by CFAO secured Auto Aftersales Service Provider of the Year for elements and workshop providers.
The awards additionally recognised particular person contributions to the business. NORD Automobiles Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Oluwatobi Ajayi, was named Auto Personality of the Year in the private-sector class, whereas the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Joseph Osanipin, obtained the public-sector honour.
The variety of the 2025 winners highlighted the increasing scope of the awards, which recognise not solely passenger automobile producers but in addition industrial transport operators, native assemblers, workshop operators, alternative-energy mobility suppliers and different companies supporting the automotive worth chain.
For business gamers, the awards provide a possibility to strengthen model visibility, construct client confidence and reveal competitiveness in a market the place product high quality, affordability, technological options and dependable after-sales help more and more affect buying selections.
Recognition of native meeting vegetation and alternative-energy automobile suppliers can be anticipated to attract consideration to the significance of home manufacturing and the improvement of extra sustainable transportation options.
As nominations collect momentum, the organisers have referred to as on vehicle manufacturers, producers, distributors, sellers and different stakeholders to take part actively in the course of.
With final yr’s winners setting a aggressive benchmark, consideration is now shifting to the firms, automobile fashions and business personalities that can emerge as Nigeria’s greatest performers at the December 3 ceremony.
