The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has called for stronger collaboration between the Federal Government and the private sector to fast-track Nigeria’s transition to cleaner transportation powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Electric Vehicles (EVs).
Speaking at the 3rd Nigeria Auto Industry Summit in Lagos, the Chairman of the LCCI Auto and Allied Sector Group, Dr. Femi Eguaikhide, said the success of Nigeria’s clean mobility agenda would depend on sustained stakeholder collaboration, policy consistency and the removal of regulatory barriers discouraging investment.
The summit, organised by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) under the theme, “Nigeria’s Clean Mobility Future: The EV and CNG Journey Under the Bola Tinubu Administration”, brought together policymakers, regulators, vehicle manufacturers, financiers, transport operators, researchers, safety agencies and development partners to chart the future of sustainable transportation in Nigeria.
Eguaikhide acknowledged the Federal Government’s commitment to promoting cleaner energy through the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV), but stressed that translating policy into measurable results would require stronger coordination between government institutions and private investors.
He described the automotive industry as a critical driver of industrialisation, employment and economic growth, urging government agencies to work more closely with manufacturers, assemblers, financiers and technology providers to eliminate regulatory bottlenecks and create an enabling environment for investment.
According to him, continuous stakeholder engagement is essential to resolving challenges affecting vehicle conversion, local manufacturing, financing, infrastructure development and investment.
While noting that Nigeria has enormous potential to build a globally competitive clean mobility ecosystem, he warned that fragmented policies and institutional delays could slow the country’s progress if left unaddressed.
He therefore urged government agencies to strengthen partnerships with the organised private sector to accelerate the rollout of CNG refuelling stations, EV charging infrastructure and local automotive manufacturing.
Earlier, the Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to expanding Nigeria’s clean mobility ecosystem through increased investment in infrastructure, local manufacturing and strategic partnerships.
Representing the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Pi-CNG & EV, Barrister Ismaeel Ahmed, the Initiative’s Chief Compliance Officer, Engr. Zayyanu Tamberi Yabo, said the clean mobility programme has become a major pillar of President Bola Tinubu’s transport and energy reform agenda.
He explained that the initiative was conceived not only to promote alternative fuels but also to build an integrated ecosystem that supports infrastructure development, investment, vehicle conversion, local manufacturing, technical capacity development and consumer confidence.
“Our approach from the outset has been to lay the foundation for a sustainable industry rather than pursue isolated interventions”, he said.
According to him, the number of certified CNG conversion centres has grown significantly over the past two years, while new refuelling stations are being developed through public and private sector investments.
He added that vehicle conversions are increasing steadily as commercial transport operators and private motorists embrace CNG because of its affordability and lower operating costs.
The initiative, he said, is also collaborating with financial institutions, energy companies and automobile manufacturers to improve access to financing and encourage wider adoption of clean mobility technologies.
However, he identified infrastructure expansion, consumer financing, local manufacturing capacity, technical skills development, research, innovation and standardisation as critical areas requiring sustained attention.
In his welcome address, Chairman of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association, Theodore Opara, described the summit as a strategic platform for shaping the future of Nigeria’s automotive industry.
He noted that recent reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration had created fresh momentum for the adoption of CNG, electric vehicles and local vehicle manufacturing, stressing that stronger collaboration among government, industry stakeholders and the media would be vital to sustaining the gains.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, represented by Engr. Olalekan Omoniyi, emphasised that internationally recognised standards and strict regulatory compliance would be central to the success of Nigeria’s clean mobility transition.
He disclosed that SON has developed more than 80 Nigerian Industrial Standards for CNG vehicles and equipment, alongside 87 additional standards and the National Nigeria Guideline (NNG 1214:2024) for CNG vehicle conversions.
He warned against the proliferation of uncertified conversion centres and substandard equipment, calling for mandatory certification of imported and locally assembled electric vehicles, CNG-powered vehicles, conversion kits and charging infrastructure.
The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, also stressed that Nigeria’s transition to cleaner transportation must be underpinned by robust road safety measures.
He said the FRSC is strengthening safety regulations, stakeholder engagement and operational frameworks to support the growing deployment of CNG and electric vehicles across the country.
The summit ended with a consensus among stakeholders that Nigeria has the capacity to emerge as a regional leader in clean mobility, provided government, regulators and the private sector sustain collaboration on infrastructure development, investment, policy implementation and standards enforcement.