Nigeria Steps Up Bid to Lead Africa’s Electric Vehicle Production
Atume Terfa
Nigeria is stepping up its ambition to lead Africa’s automotive transformation as Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) moves closer to completing a large-scale production facility dedicated to compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicles—a development that could redefine how cars are built and powered across the continent.
Rising in Nnewi, Anambra State, the state-of-the-art plant is being positioned as a game-changer for local manufacturing. According to Innoson’s Executive Chairman, Chief Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma, the facility is expected to rank among the world’s largest CNG vehicle plants once fully operational. With the capacity to produce thousands of vehicles each year, the factory is set to strengthen Nigeria’s claim as a centre for affordable, cleaner and locally assembled automobiles.
The new facility is tailored to vehicles powered by compressed natural gas, leveraging Nigeria’s vast gas reserves and aligning with the federal government’s push to cut fuel costs and reduce dependence on petrol and diesel. CNG-powered vehicles offer a cheaper, cleaner alternative for consumers while supporting broader goals around emissions reduction and energy security.
Beyond gas-powered models, Innoson has also entered the electric vehicle space, recently unveiling its first locally manufactured EV. The move signals a broader strategy to place Nigeria within Africa’s emerging electric mobility ecosystem, at a time when global automakers are racing toward cleaner transport solutions.
As the plant nears completion, Innoson is preparing for a significant expansion in capacity and manpower. Thousands of new jobs are expected to be created, alongside training programmes aimed at equipping young Nigerians with technical and manufacturing skills critical to modern auto production.
The expansion is also drawing regional attention. ECOWAS officials have recently toured Innoson’s facilities as part of efforts to boost automotive manufacturing across West Africa, noting the company’s growing product range—from buses and trucks to CNG-powered vehicles—and its plans to extend assembly operations beyond Nigeria’s borders.
For decades, Nigeria’s automotive sector has struggled to live up to its potential, with heavy reliance on imported vehicles limiting local value creation. Innoson’s investment in cleaner technologies and domestic manufacturing points to a different future—one anchored in sustainability, local content and export potential.
By embracing both CNG and electric mobility, Nigeria is positioning itself at the cutting edge of Africa’s shift toward greener transportation. With Innoson’s new plant nearing completion and policy support gradually aligning, the country may be on the verge of playing a defining role in shaping the continent’s automotive future.
