FG Approves Electric Buses To Boost Local Auto Industry

The federal government has approved the acquisition of electric buses for civil servants as part of a broader strategy to promote local vehicle assembly and accelerate Nigeria’s transition to cleaner transportation.

Joseph Osanipin, Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing newsmen in Abuja. He said the buses would be sourced from local assemblers to strengthen domestic manufacturing and expand Nigeria’s automotive sector.

“The government has also procured charging infrastructure, which will be installed across the country to support the deployment and adoption of electric vehicles,” Osanipin said. “This initiative is aimed at encouraging cleaner mobility while creating opportunities for local manufacturers.”

The NADDC boss also announced plans to establish an automotive development park in Nnewi, Anambra, designed to provide shared infrastructure for automotive manufacturers and component producers.

“We are developing the Nnewi Automotive Development Park where users can share facilities, allowing investors and manufacturers to operate without individually providing all the required infrastructure before starting operations,” he said. The council is actively seeking additional investment to accelerate the park’s development and attract more players into the sector.

Osanipin urged Nigerians to patronise locally assembled vehicles, highlighting that doing so would create jobs, reduce import dependence, and contribute to economic growth. NADDC is providing training for manufacturers and stakeholders to support local production of components such as batteries and tyres.

He also noted that the Council is collaborating with the Bank of Industry (BoI) to facilitate the disbursement of the National Automotive Development Fund to qualified stakeholders. Additionally, NADDC is working toward forwarding a bill to the National Assembly to strengthen its operations in line with global best practices.

Osanipin reiterated the Council’s commitment to repositioning Nigeria’s automotive industry and called for continued support from investors and stakeholders.