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Nigeria Urged to Accelerate Electric Vehicle Strategy or Risk Falling Behind

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  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Tuesday, December 9th 2025 at 9:38 GMT by LEADERSHIP Newspaper

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Nigeria Must Accelerate Its Electric Vehicle Strategy – A Summary of Leadership.ng’s In‑Depth Report

The electric‑vehicle (EV) boom is reshaping transportation systems worldwide, and Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, risks lagging behind if it does not act decisively. Leadership.ng’s feature “Nigeria can’t be left behind in electric vehicles revolution – Ayom” explores the current state of Nigeria’s EV ecosystem, highlights the challenges that must be overcome, and presents a blueprint for the country’s future in the global shift toward cleaner mobility.

1. A Global Context: The EV Revolution in 2024

The article opens by noting that, in 2023, EV sales surged by 40 % globally, with China, Europe, and the United States leading the charge. According to a BloombergNEF (BNEF) report linked within the article, the global EV market is expected to hit 30 million vehicles by 2030, generating trillions in revenue and displacing millions of fossil‑fuel jobs. In Africa, the EV market remains nascent but is projected to grow 25 % annually, with Nigeria poised to be the continent’s largest market due to its population, urban density, and rising income levels.

Leadership.ng provides a chart (linking to the BNEF dataset) that places Nigeria’s current EV penetration at a mere 0.03 % of total vehicle sales—far below the 2 % global average. The article underscores that this disparity is not due to lack of ambition but to a lack of infrastructure, regulatory clarity, and investment.

2. Government Commitments – A Mixed Picture

Ayom, a senior policy adviser in the Federal Ministry of Transportation, is quoted extensively throughout the article. She stresses that the Nigerian government has announced a “National Electric Vehicle Policy” (NEVP) slated for release later in the year, but that implementation has stalled. In an interview, Ayom highlights three key government initiatives:

1. Subsidies for EV Importers – The government has pledged a 50 % reduction in import duties for EVs and charging equipment, but bureaucratic delays keep many manufacturers waiting months for clearance.
2. Infrastructure Development Plans – A $5 billion investment plan is under discussion to build charging stations along the Lagos–Port Harcourt corridor, but funding sources remain unclear.
3. Domestic Manufacturing Incentives – The NEVP aims to grant tax holidays to local manufacturers, but no concrete list of eligible firms has been published.

The article links to the Ministry’s draft NEVP, which outlines a phased approach: import facilitation, infrastructure build‑out, and eventual domestic production. However, critics—cited in the piece—argue that without a clear timeline and enforcement mechanisms, the policy will remain symbolic.

3. Infrastructure Bottlenecks

A significant portion of the article is devoted to the practical obstacles that would prevent Nigeria from catching up in the EV race.

3.1. Energy Supply

Nigeria’s national grid delivers only 30 % of the country’s electricity demand, and frequent load‑shedding cripples commercial and industrial operations. The article cites the World Bank’s “Nigeria Energy Overview” (link included) which states that the country’s peak demand rose from 6 GW in 2015 to 10 GW in 2023, while supply lagged at 7.5 GW. This gap translates to an unsustainable situation for EV charging, which could strain the grid further if widespread adoption is attempted without parallel capacity upgrades.

3.2. Charging Stations

A map embedded in the article shows that Lagos alone hosts fewer than 50 public charging points, most of which are privately owned and expensive to use. Ayom notes that the government’s plan to install 2,000 charging stations nationwide is ambitious but ungrounded, citing the lack of a financing model. The article links to a report by the African Development Bank (AfDB) that recommends a “public‑private partnership” (PPP) framework to deploy charging infrastructure cost‑effectively.

3.3. Road Infrastructure and Vehicle Standards

Nigeria’s roads remain in disrepair, especially in rural regions where EVs would need robust range. The article references the “Roads Authority Annual Report” (link) showing that only 17 % of roads are paved. Additionally, the country’s vehicle import standards are outdated, lacking clear specifications for battery safety and emissions that are mandatory in most other markets. Ayom suggests a regulatory review to align Nigeria’s standards with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) guidelines.

4. The Private Sector’s Role

The article presents a series of case studies illustrating how local entrepreneurs are already moving ahead, albeit on a small scale.

• EcoDrive Motors – A Lagos‑based startup that launched its first battery‑electric car in 2022. The company plans to build a local battery factory by 2026, leveraging surplus local minerals.
• PowerCharge Solutions – A Abuja‑based firm that installs solar‑powered charging stations for municipal fleets, currently serving over 200 vehicles.
• Bionic Motors – A partnership between a Nigerian university and a Chinese automaker to prototype an affordable electric minivan tailored to African conditions.

Ayom stresses that “private sector ingenuity is the keystone,” but also notes that these ventures suffer from high upfront costs and limited access to capital. The article links to a Forbes piece on venture capital trends in African EV startups, highlighting that only 3 % of global EV VC funding goes to African firms.

5. Economic and Environmental Benefits

Beyond infrastructure, the article details the potential macro‑economic dividends of an EV revolution in Nigeria.

• Job Creation – Estimates from the AfDB suggest that scaling up EV manufacturing could generate up to 500,000 jobs over a decade, ranging from assembly line work to battery recycling.
• Energy Security – By reducing reliance on imported diesel, Nigeria could save billions of dollars annually, redirecting those funds toward health and education.
• Carbon Reduction – Transitioning 1 million light‑duty vehicles to electric would cut CO₂ emissions by an estimated 8 million tonnes per year, aligning with Nigeria’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Ayom is quoted as saying, “EVs aren’t just about cars; they’re about powering a cleaner, more resilient future for all Nigerians.”

6. Recommendations – A Roadmap for 2025‑2030

The article concludes with a pragmatic policy framework distilled from interviews with industry leaders, NGOs, and government officials:

1. Accelerate NEVP Finalisation – Adopt a clear timeline with milestones and penalties for delays.
2. Diversify Funding Sources – Leverage AfDB, IMF, and sovereign wealth funds for grid upgrades, while encouraging PPPs for charging networks.
3. Create a Local Value Chain – Offer tax incentives for battery component manufacturing, and facilitate technology transfer agreements.
4. Public Awareness Campaigns – Invest in marketing to demystify EV technology and counteract price fears.
5. Regulatory Alignment – Update vehicle import standards to ISO 26262 and ISO 9001, and introduce a national “EV certification” process.

Ayom calls this “an integrated, multi‑sector approach that must be anchored in a clear, enforceable policy and a willingness to attract foreign direct investment.”

7. Final Thoughts

Leadership.ng’s article paints a vivid picture of a country at a crossroads. With the world pivoting to electric mobility, Nigeria faces a daunting yet fertile opportunity. The nation’s leadership must transform the current aspirational policy landscape into a tangible, investor‑friendly environment. Only then can the country avoid being left behind and instead become a leading African hub for electric vehicle innovation.