Last Wednesday, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, paid an official visit to the SAGLEV Electromobility Company Limited Assembly Plant located in Ikorodu, Lagos, a facility that represents a growing milestone for Nigeria’s Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturing sector, endorsing domestic innovation in the country.
During the tour, Oduwole praised the bold commitment of domestic investors who have spent over five years developing the plant, calling it “an offshoot of years of planning, training, and partnership”. She emphasised that the visit aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Nigeria First’ industrial and trade policy, which prioritises local businesses and aims to make Nigerian enterprises thrive.
“This is affordable, this is sustainable; it’s what can jumpstart transportation logistics in Nigeria,” Oduwole, remarked, highlighting the economic potential of SAGLEV’s electric vehicles. She noted that these EVs consume 80 per cent less energy than traditional vehicles and could offer credit options for young Nigerians hoping to own one.
The Minister reiterated the administration’s dedication to scalable reform for small and medium-sized enterprises and championed trade facilitation as critical to economic growth. She celebrated the progress of the National Single Window project, a digital infrastructure initiative expected to significantly streamline trade by first quarter of 2026.
Oduwole also addressed public sentiment around locally produced goods, encouraging Nigerians to proudly support domestic manufacturing. She stressed that patriotic buying could fuel broader economic expansion, particularly as SAGLEV prepares not only to produce vehicles locally but to export to other African markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The visit underscores a strategic push to improve ease of doing business, invest in technical training, and position Nigeria as a competitive force in sustainable transportation and regional trade.