The commitment was restated during the inaugural meeting of the Electric Vehicle Association of Nigeria, where policymakers and private-sector stakeholders gathered to chart a pathway for the country’s participation in the rapidly expanding global electric mobility market.
Government frames EV transition as industrial opportunity
At the centre of the policy message was the view that electric mobility is no longer just an environmental goal, but a potential engine for industrial growth, job creation, and technological development.
The Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, Princess Zahrah Audu, said the government sees the emergence of the Electric Vehicle Association of Nigeria (EVAN/EVAMAN) as a timely intervention aligned with national development priorities.
“The emergence of EVAMAN is both timely and significant in helping to drive this transition,” she said.
She stressed that under President Bola Tinubu’s economic agenda, Nigeria is seeking to integrate itself into global shifts toward cleaner transport systems.
“President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda recognises that global transportation systems are evolving toward cleaner and smarter technologies,” she added.
According to her, electric mobility could unlock new value chains across manufacturing, renewable energy integration, infrastructure development, and digital innovation, while also contributing to Nigeria’s climate commitments through reduced emissions.
L-R: EVAMAN Chairman, Mustapha Audu; National Coordinator of Strategy Implementation Task Force for Presidential Executive Order., Dr Ibiam Oguejiofor and Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, Princess Zahrah Audu at the event in Abuja on Thursday. Photo credit: Adebayo Folorunsho-Francis
Innovation ministry highlights technology as economic divider
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh, also reinforced the strategic importance of technological development in shaping Nigeria’s industrial future.
He argued that sustained innovation will determine whether countries move into higher economic tiers or remain dependent on outdated systems.
“Our objective is clear. Nigeria’s talent, resources, technology and enterprises must occupy a central place in the country’s industrial future,” he said.
He added that the transition to electric mobility would require coordinated policy frameworks, industrial financing mechanisms, and deeper collaboration between government and private industry.
Industry group says Nigeria risks missing global EV shift
On the private-sector side, the Chairman of EVAMAN, Mustapha Audu, said the association was created to ensure Nigeria is not left behind as the global automotive industry moves toward electrification.
He noted that the group has already begun working with key institutions such as the National Automotive Design and Development Council, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, and the Energy Commission of Nigeria to build regulatory and technical alignment.
Despite structural challenges—including infrastructure gaps, funding constraints, and policy uncertainty—he said the long-term opportunity remains significant.
“Nigeria has enormous potential to become a major player in Africa’s electric mobility revolution,” Audu said.
“With our large market, skilled manpower and growing technological capacity, we can position ourselves as a hub for electric vehicle manufacturing and clean transportation solutions in Africa.”
EV transition tied to broader economic diversification push
The government’s renewed interest in electric vehicles reflects a wider strategy to diversify Nigeria’s economy beyond hydrocarbons while expanding domestic manufacturing capacity.
Electric mobility, officials argue, could serve as a convergence point for energy transition goals and industrial policy—linking transportation reform with renewable energy adoption, local assembly ecosystems, and digital innovation.
As discussions continue, stakeholders are now focusing on whether policy commitments can be matched with infrastructure investment and long-term regulatory clarity needed to scale Nigeria’s electric vehicle ecosystem beyond early-stage momentum.