The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has called on private investors to scale up investment in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refuelling and Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to accelerate Nigeria’s clean mobility transition.
Speaking at the 3rd Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU) themed ‘Nigeria’s Clean Mobility Future: The EV And CNG Journey Under The President Bola Tinubu Administration’ organised by NAJA in Lagos, the Director-General of NADDC was represented by Director of Public Relations, Mrs. Susan Taiwo.
She said NADDC has spent over two decades laying the foundation for automotive transformation, with early focus on mechatronics and EVs when the concept was still unfamiliar in Nigeria.
“More than 20 years ago, many people questioned our emphasis on mechatronics and electric vehicles. They were asking what is mechatronics and my DG explained that, that is where the world is going – EV and CNG. Today, the world has embraced clean energy, and Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind,” she said.
Taiwo recalled NADDC’s support for Nigeria’s first electric vehicle, the Hyundai Kona EV, despite scepticism over power supply. “At the time, many people doubted that EVs could succeed because of inadequate power. Today, EVs are becoming increasingly common,” she noted.
She disclosed that NADDC has certified 345 CNG conversion centres nationwide and continues to monitor compliance with safety and operational standards. She described CNG as cleaner, safer and more cost-effective than petrol, with lower maintenance and reduced emissions.
However, Taiwo expressed concern over limited refuelling stations causing long queues. “We want a situation where motorists can simply drive into a CNG station, refill and continue their journeys without delays. The council alone cannot achieve this. We need private sector investment,” she said.
She also stressed the urgent need to expand EV charging networks, noting that scarcity of charging points discourages long-distance travel.
“In advanced countries, charging stations are available every few hours along highways. That is the kind of infrastructure Nigeria should be building,” she said.
Expanding clean energy infrastructure, she added, will support the auto industry and improve public health by cutting carbon emissions, reaffirming NADDC’s commitment to a greener, sustainable transport ecosystem.