Vice-President Kashim Shettima has urged Nigeria’s automotive manufacturers to ramp up production of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric vehicles as demand for cleaner and cheaper transportation increases nationwide.
His position was delivered in Abuja by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, at the opening of the 25th Abuja International Motor Fair.
Shettima said the auto industry remains central to the Federal Government’s drive for industrialisation. He outlined the administration’s approach under the framework of “Gas, Green and Growth,” noting that Nigeria’s large natural gas reserves offer a cost-efficient route for transforming mass mobility systems. He added that the government had already released 20 billion naira through Credit Corp to support the purchase of locally assembled vehicles.
He called for more affordable financing structures tailored to Made-in-Nigeria vehicles, stressing that low interest rates are essential for expanding access. According to him, wider affordability for teachers, nurses and small business owners would stimulate production, deepen employment and strengthen overall economic stability.
Shettima also urged banks and financial institutions to create lending models that support domestic assembly lines, stating that financial flow remains the foundation of industrial growth. He reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s plan to position Nigeria as West Africa’s hub for CNG and electric mobility and encouraged manufacturers to prioritise local components in line with the Nigeria First Policy.
The Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, restated the government’s commitment to predictable policies and targeted incentives that strengthen local manufacturing. He said the Abuja fair demonstrated the progress under the National Automotive Industry Development Plan, with local assemblers proving competitive in quality and durability.
The Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Joseph Osanipin, said efforts to revive the sector are ongoing, supported by about 30 active assemblers with nearly one billion dollars in cumulative investments. He said Nigeria’s population, market size and policy direction provide favourable conditions for long-term growth.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology launched an electric vehicle charging station in Abuja in partnership with the Electric Motor Vehicle Company, marking another step in Nigeria’s push toward sustainable mobility.
