By Lois Sambo
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to accelerating the growth of Nigeria’s electric vehicle (EV) industry through policies anchored on local content, innovation, technology transfer and sustainable industrial development.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Udeh, gave the assurance at the inaugural congress and meeting of the Electric Vehicle Assemblers and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, EVAMAN, in Abuja.
He was represented by Mr Ibiam Oguejiofor, National Coordinator, Strategy Implementation Task Office for Presidential Executive Order No. 5, who said government was focused on ensuring that Nigerian expertise, enterprises and locally sourced materials play a central role in the country’s industrial transformation.
He said Presidential Executive Order No. 5 remained a key framework for strengthening indigenous participation in science, engineering, technology and innovation-driven development.
According to him, the Federal Ministry is collaborating with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, to institutionalise local content across sectors such as clean energy, advanced manufacturing, digital innovation and sustainable transportation.
“Our objective is clear and unwavering: Nigerian talent, Nigerian resources, Nigerian technology and Nigerian enterprises must occupy a central place in the country’s industrial future,” he said.
Dr Udeh added that the Ministry was ready to deepen collaboration with EVAMAN through policy coordination, research partnerships and innovation support programmes to boost growth in the EV ecosystem.
A major highlight of the event was the inauguration of a new executive council for EVAMAN, marking its transition from a caretaker leadership to an elected administration.
The newly inaugurated executive council is led by Prince Mustapha Mona Audu as President, with Al Amin Ibrahim Al Amin as Vice-President, and Prof. Chinedu Ochinanwata as Secretary-General.
Others include Ademola Ogunbanjo as Assistant Secretary-General; Mr Adeyemi Olukayode Kalejaiye as Treasurer; Maxx EV as Assistant Treasurer; Barrister Celyena Okiyi as Legal Adviser; Dr Ikenna Ayu as Head of Public Affairs; Engr. Chinese Ekeh as Head of Research and Innovation; and Hon. Dr Edward Ihejirika as Head of Government Liaison and Policy.
In his acceptance speech, Prince Audu described the inauguration as a milestone in the association’s growth and institutional development.
He said EVAMAN had, within two years, secured registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, and strengthened partnerships with government agencies and private sector stakeholders.
He added that the association had expanded its membership base to include manufacturers, assemblers, charging infrastructure providers, renewable energy experts, researchers and investors in the electric mobility space.
“Nigeria has the potential to become a major player in Africa’s electric mobility revolution, with its large market, skilled manpower and growing technological capacity,” he said.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, PEBEC, Princess Zahrah Audu, reaffirmed government’s commitment to building a modern, innovation-driven economy under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
She said electric mobility offers opportunities for industrial growth, environmental sustainability, renewable energy integration and job creation.
Zahrah added that PEBEC would continue to support reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business and attracting investment into emerging industries.
“The electric vehicle ecosystem can stimulate growth across manufacturing, renewable energy, logistics, infrastructure development and skills acquisition,” she said.
In a presentation, Ms Gift Agboro, Operations and Strategy Consultant at Leke Services, identified limited access to finance, inadequate charging infrastructure, lack of standards and weak industry data as major challenges facing Nigeria’s EV sector.
She called for lower lending rates, stronger coordination and improved stakeholder collaboration to accelerate industry growth.
Agboro also said a unified platform such as EVAMAN would help address policy gaps, improve transparency and support infrastructure development.
Similarly, the President of OANDO Clean Energy, represented by Mr Adeyemi Adebajo, Senior Vice President, Technology and Innovation, said the company is supporting clean mobility through investments in electric buses and renewable energy solutions.
He said the deployment of electric buses was aimed at promoting cleaner transport systems and building public confidence in electric mobility.
Adebajo added that renewable energy, particularly solar power, remains critical to the sustainability of electric transportation systems in Nigeria.
