Nigeria is moving to embrace electric vehicles (EVs) not just as a clean transport alternative but as a lever for job creation, poverty alleviation, and industrial growth.
Policymakers, investors, and innovators will converge in Lagos on November 13–14 for the Electric Vehicles Nigeria (EVN) Expo 2025, an event designed to accelerate the country’s transition to electric mobility.
The inaugural expo, scheduled for Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, is expected to attract more than 2,500 participants from the government, private sector, financial institutions, and startups. Organisers say it will serve as a catalytic platform to showcase innovations, financing models, and roadmaps for mainstreaming EV adoption in Africa’s most populous country.
Read also: Qoray, AutoGig partner to expand aftersales support for electric vehicles in Nigeria
At a pre-event briefing in Lagos, Adekoyejo Abiola, convener of EVN Expo, argued that electric mobility has become central to global conversations on energy security, competitiveness, and industrial policy. For Nigeria, he said, EVs represent a chance to build a transport system that works for both the formal and informal economies.
“This is not just a chance to catch up,” Abiola said. “It is a unique opportunity to lead West Africa in building an inclusive, climate-resilient transport economy. Think local assembly, battery production, component manufacturing, software and fleet management systems. This is how we stimulate job creation across manufacturing, logistics, and digital services. But most importantly, this transition must also work for the informal economy.”
Abiola stressed that EV adoption could reshape livelihoods by lowering long-term transport costs, curbing foreign exchange spent on fuel imports, and positioning Nigeria as a hub for sustainable industry.
According to Abiola, the EVN Expo will bring together knowledge partners such as Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), GreenMax Capital Group, and NoMAP, alongside associations including EMPAN, MEMAN, and REAN. Discussions will focus on financing, infrastructure, and policy frameworks.
Boluwasope Ogboye, project and technical lead for EVN Expo 2025, said the event’s core goals include mobilizing investment, strengthening Nigeria’s voice in global sustainability dialogues, and creating opportunities for startups.
Experts agree that government leadership will be crucial. Ridwan Zubair, a representative of RMI, said EV adoption goes beyond climate goals—it is also about economic competitiveness and cost savings.
“With the removal of fuel subsidies tripling transport costs, alternatives like EVs have become urgent,” Zubair said. He cited weak charging infrastructure, high upfront costs, limited financing, and grid unreliability as current barriers. But he added that supportive policies—such as reduced import duties, EV mandates, emissions standards, and zero-emission zones—could unlock rapid adoption.
Nigeria, which has pledged to achieve net zero emissions by 2060, could save up to ₦6.5 trillion annually by 2040 through reduced fuel imports and avoided carbon emissions, Zubair noted.
For Koye Alaba, director of off-grid transaction advisory at GreenMax Capital, the EV shift represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity. But he warned that infrastructure and financing remain critical gaps.
Read also: REEV Africa Expo 2025 to Drive Nigeria’s Renewable Energy and Electric Vehicle Revolution
“A strategic roadmap is needed to put Nigeria at the forefront of e-mobility’s future,” Alaba said. “It starts with investment in infrastructure and renewable energy integration, supported by strong policy and innovation.”
Jennifer Anya, Nigeria program lead for NoMAP, said mass EV adoption would open up multiple value chains across assembly, battery recycling, software development, and logistics.
“With time, the right investment, and sound policies, EVs will no longer be a luxury but a necessity accessible to all Nigerians,” she said.
