The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), has embarked on an initiative to foster local manufacturing and assembly of electric vehicles (EVs).
According to NADDC Director-General Joseph Osanipin, who shared this information in an interview with The PUNCH, the council is actively pursuing a partnership with Moroccan firms to advance EV production within Nigeria.
During the recent Nigeria-Morocco Business Forum, Osanipin highlighted significant investment opportunities in Nigeria’s automotive industry. The key areas emphasized include local component manufacturing, electric and gas-powered vehicles, and essential EV infrastructure development.
The NADDC delegation also explored Morocco’s automotive sector, visiting the National Center for Homologation, a regulatory authority, and two prominent firms—E-move Vehicles Company and Univers Acier Steel.
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E-move Vehicles, known for its electric motorcycles, tricycles, batteries, and energy storage systems, represents a valuable partner due to its expertise in battery technology and cost-efficient EV production.
NADDC aims to replicate such manufacturing in Nigeria, which Osanipin believes will support the country’s energy transition in mobility, create employment, and lessen dependency on imported vehicles.
Additionally, Univers Acier Steel’s experience in producing steel parts for the auto industry offers potential for local production of components that can be exported back to Morocco.
Osanipin stated that these meetings were insightful, marking the beginning of collaboration and knowledge exchange on automotive standards, testing, and regulations.
He mentioned visiting several testing centers, including Cetiev, which verifies automotive components to ensure quality, and CTPC, which specializes in plastic testing. He expressed optimism that these partnerships will yield actionable outcomes in Nigeria’s automotive sector, furthering technological advancement and sustainable economic growth.
