By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
The Federal Government has approved the procurement of electric buses for civil servants, a move aimed at bolstering local vehicle assembly and accelerating Nigeria’s transition to cleaner energy.
Joseph Osanipin, Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), disclosed this to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday. He stated that the buses will be sourced from local assemblers to strengthen domestic manufacturing and stimulate growth in the nation’s automotive sector.
To support the deployment of these vehicles, the government has also acquired charging infrastructure, which will be installed at various locations across the country. According to Mr. Osanipin, the initiative is designed to encourage a shift towards cleaner mobility while creating new opportunities for local manufacturers.
In a related development aimed at fortifying the industry’s foundation, the NADDC is establishing an automotive development park in Nnewi, Anambra State. The facility, named the Nnewi Automotive Development Park, will provide shared industrial infrastructure for vehicle manufacturers and component producers.
“We are developing the Nnewi Automotive Development Park, where we will provide the necessary infrastructure so that users of the park can share facilities,” Mr. Osanipin explained. “The arrangement will allow investors and manufacturers to operate without having to individually provide all the required infrastructure before establishing operations.”
He noted that the council is actively seeking additional investment to accelerate the park’s development and attract more players into the sector.
Beyond infrastructure, the NADDC is focusing on skills development and local content. Mr. Osanipin disclosed that the council is providing training to manufacturers and stakeholders to promote the local production of key components such as batteries and tyres. This strategy, he said, is intended to reduce import dependence, create jobs, and contribute positively to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
To ease access to capital, the council is collaborating with the Bank of Industry (BOI) to facilitate the disbursement of the National Automotive Development Fund to qualified stakeholders.
Mr. Osanipin also revealed that the NADDC is working on a draft bill to be forwarded to the National Assembly. The proposed legislation aims to strengthen the council’s operations and align them with global best practices.
He reiterated the council’s commitment to repositioning Nigeria’s automotive industry and called for continued support from investors and stakeholders, while urging Nigerians to patronize locally assembled vehicles to help create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
