The Federal Government has begun distributing the first batch of electric vehicles promised to civil servants, marking a new phase in its push for cleaner transportation and lower commuting costs in Nigeria.
The Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Joseph Osanipin, announced the development after meeting President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday. He said the vehicles were fully electric and that the latest delivery was only the start of a wider rollout.
Osanipin said the government was also working to build the infrastructure needed to support electric vehicles across the country. Charging-related facilities have reportedly been deployed in about 16 universities as part of efforts to develop an electric vehicle ecosystem.
The NADDC boss stressed that shifting Nigerians to alternative energy sources would require more than government policies. He pointed to the need for charging facilities, filling stations, mobile refill units and adequate energy production to make electric vehicles and compressed natural gas more practical for everyday users.
The government has also recorded an increase in private-sector participation in the CNG market. Osanipin said the number of companies licensed to retail gas had risen from about four to 81, with the expansion expected to improve availability in more parts of the country.
He cited the experience of a traveller who reportedly reduced fuel spending from more than N200,000 to about N40,000 after switching to CNG and refuelling in Kano. Osanipin said such cases showed the potential for alternative fuels to reduce transportation costs as infrastructure expands.
However, he acknowledged that cheaper fuel had not always translated into lower fares for commuters. He said some fleet operators were already benefiting from reduced CNG costs but had yet to pass the savings on to passengers, adding that the government’s next phase would focus on enforcing policies aimed at ensuring consumers also benefit.
Osanipin said his meeting with Tinubu also covered developments in Nigeria’s automotive industry, including new investments and draft legislation intended to strengthen regulation, attract investment and accelerate the sector’s growth.
