Côte d’Ivoire woos Nigerian auto investors to regional mobility expo

• 150 global brands to storm Abidjan 

Côte d’Ivoire is making a bold bid to become West Africa’s automotive and mobility hub with the launch of EQUIP AUTO Côte d’Ivoire, an international trade exhibition expected to attract more than 150 exhibitors and brands from across Europe, Asia and Africa in a move aimed at deepening regional trade and cross-border investment.

The maiden edition of the exhibition will hold from November 26 to 28, 2026, at the Abidjan Exhibition Centre, bringing together about 10,000 industry professionals, investors, policymakers and members of the public from across the automotive value chain.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday, President of Interlinks Auto and MIWA AFRICA SARL, Mr. Luc Azilinon, described the event as a major milestone in expanding the globally recognised EQUIP AUTO brand into sub-Saharan Africa.

The briefing, held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Victoria Island, was convened by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Promosalons Nigeria, Cameroon and Gabon, Mr. Akin Akinbola, whose organisation represents the organisers of EQUIP AUTO Côte d’Ivoire in Nigeria and Cameroon.

According to Azilinon, the exhibition is being organised through a collaboration between EQUIP AUTO Paris and MIWA AFRICA SARL and is designed to become West Africa’s leading business platform for mobility and the automotive industry.

He said the three-day event would feature exhibitions, thematic workshops, conferences, business-to-business and business-to-consumer meetings, product demonstrations and live vehicle testing.

The exhibition will cover passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles, heavy-duty and industrial vehicles, transport, automotive aftermarket, agriculture and public works, reflecting the realities and growth potential of the West African market.

Azilinon disclosed that exhibitors are expected from Germany, France, Türkiye, Italy, Algeria, Nigeria, Cameroon, India, China, South Korea and Japan.

“Our ambition is to position EQUIP AUTO Côte d’Ivoire as the leading platform for developing business in West Africa by combining innovation with business opportunities and establishing the region as a strategic mobility hub for Africa,” he said.

He added that the event’s innovative B2B2C format would create a strategic meeting point for vehicle manufacturers, distributors, repairers, fleet operators and government agencies, while giving participants access to cutting-edge technologies and mobility solutions tailored to regional needs.

According to him, the exhibition is also expected to stimulate regional trade, strengthen cross-border partnerships, support the modernisation of automotive infrastructure and distribution networks, and facilitate the expansion of international companies into West African markets.

Explaining why Côte d’Ivoire was selected to host the inaugural edition, Azilinon cited the country’s political stability, investor-friendly environment, strategic infrastructure and growing economic influence within the Economic Community of West African States.

He noted that Côte d’Ivoire has maintained strong institutional stability following the 2025 elections, recorded major investments in transport, energy and construction, and hosts the Port of Abidjan, one of West Africa’s busiest maritime gateways.

He also pointed to the country’s robust economic performance, with a growth rate of 6.5 per cent in 2024, driven by agriculture, agribusiness, infrastructure and services.

The Ivorian Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Kalilou Traoré, was represented at the event by Dr. Kaslime Kouassi, underscoring the country’s commitment to strengthening economic and commercial ties across the region through the automotive sector.

FG Courts China Logistics Deal to Power $1tn Economy Drive

The Federal Government has intensified efforts to deepen its transport and logistics partnership with China, declaring that an efficient logistics system will be central to Nigeria’s ambition of building a US$1 trillion economy by 2030.

Speaking virtually at the 2026 Ningbo–Africa Trade and Logistics Cooperation Forum in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China, the Technical Adviser to the Vice President on Transportation, Logistics and Innovation, Dr. Segun Obayendo, said the Tinubu administration was implementing strategic reforms and partnerships to modernise transport infrastructure, improve supply chain efficiency and position Nigeria as West Africa’s logistics and distribution hub.

Obayendo said the Renewed Hope Agenda places infrastructure development, trade facilitation, investment promotion and economic competitiveness at the heart of the administration’s economic agenda, stressing that these goals cannot be achieved without a modern and integrated transport system.

“Nigeria’s aspiration to build a one-trillion-dollar economy will depend not only on what we produce but also on how efficiently we move people, goods and services,” he said.

“Modern transport infrastructure, resilient supply chains and efficient logistics systems are fundamental to attracting investment, expanding trade and driving sustainable economic growth.”

He noted that Nigeria’s strategic location, vast natural resources, expanding consumer market and access to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) provide a strong platform for regional economic leadership.

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0However, he said unlocking these opportunities would require sustained investment in multimodal transport infrastructure, seaports, rail networks, highways, inland dry ports, digital logistics platforms and integrated supply chains.

Obayendo described China’s zero-tariff policy for exports from African countries as a major opportunity for Nigeria to boost exports, strengthen local manufacturing, attract fresh investments and integrate more effectively into global value chains.

According to him, stronger Nigeria–China relations should extend beyond trade to include technology transfer, industrial development, infrastructure investment, innovation and skills development capable of generating sustainable jobs for millions of Nigerians.

He stressed that integrated logistics corridors connecting seaports, inland dry ports, rail lines, highways and warehousing facilities remain critical to reducing the cost of doing business, improving export competitiveness and maximising opportunities under AfCFTA.

The presidential aide commended the organisers of the forum—the Pan-African Institute for Supply Chain Innovation (PAISCI), the Ningbo China Institute for Supply Chain Innovation (NISCI) and China-base Group—for creating a platform that translates policy discussions into practical economic partnerships.

He also welcomed the proposed cooperation agreement on port development and logistics infrastructure between GK&A Logistics Services Limited and China-base Ningbo Foreign Trade Co. Ltd., describing it as a significant milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s logistics capacity and bilateral economic ties.

“Transport and logistics are no longer merely support services; they are strategic economic assets. Countries that invest in efficient logistics systems become more competitive, attract greater investment, create quality jobs and unlock new opportunities for sustainable development,” Obayendo said.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to policies and partnerships that promote efficient transportation, logistics innovation, trade facilitation and sustainable industrial development.

Obayendo expressed confidence that agreements reached at the Ningbo forum would deepen Nigeria–China economic cooperation, stimulate private sector investment and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in global trade, while urging governments, development partners, financial institutions and the private sector to sustain collaboration in implementing the resolutions.

FG Courts China Logistics Deal to Power $1tn Economy Drive

Nigeria Takes Centre Stage at UN Road Safety Summit as Tinubu Delegates FRSC Corps Marshal

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reinforced Nigeria’s commitment to the global campaign against road traffic fatalities by appointing the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, to lead the country’s delegation to the United Nations High-Level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety in New York, United States.

The high-level gathering at the United Nations General Assembly Headquarters has brought together Heads of State, ministers, global policymakers and road safety experts to review progress and accelerate efforts towards achieving the UN target of reducing road traffic deaths and serious injuries by 50 per cent before 2030 under the Decade of Action for Road Safety.

Representing President Tinubu at the plenary session, Shehu Mohammed delivered Nigeria’s national statement on the meeting’s theme, “Scaling Up and Accelerating Implementation of Commitments to Halving Road Traffic Deaths and Injuries by 2030.”

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s determination to strengthen road safety governance through sustained political commitment, strategic investments, innovation and stronger international partnerships in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Corps Marshal highlighted the significant progress Nigeria has recorded in advancing road safety, noting that the Federal Government has strengthened the institutional capacity of the FRSC through strategic reforms, technology-driven enforcement systems, enhanced emergency response mechanisms and intensified public education campaigns aimed at reducing crashes and fatalities.

He also showcased Nigeria’s growing influence in road safety across Africa, citing the recent launch of the Nigeria Road Assessment Programme (NigeriaRAP) in partnership with the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP).

According to him, the initiative adopts the globally recognised Safe System Approach to improve road infrastructure safety and reduce crash risks.

Mohammed further pointed to Nigeria’s role as host of the Secretariat of the African Association of Road Safety Lead Agencies (AARSLA), describing it as a strategic platform for promoting collaboration, knowledge sharing and institutional development among road safety agencies across the continent.

On sustainable transportation, the FRSC boss told delegates that Nigeria is aligning its mobility agenda with global environmental goals through the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Electric Vehicles (EVs), while developing comprehensive safety standards for heavy-duty vehicles and emerging transport technologies.

While acknowledging the progress already made, Mohammed stressed that achieving the 2030 target would require stronger international cooperation in areas such as intelligent enforcement technologies, road infrastructure safety assessments, institutional capacity development and technology transfer.

He therefore urged development partners and the international community to expand technical cooperation and support capacity-building programmes that would help countries accelerate the implementation of global road safety commitments.

Reaffirming Nigeria’s position, the Corps Marshal declared that road safety remains a national priority under President Tinubu’s administration, assuring the global community that the country would continue to collaborate with international partners to build safer roads, save more lives and contribute meaningfully to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The UN High-Level Meeting, convened by the President of the United Nations General Assembly in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), is expected to adopt a Progress Declaration that will shape global road safety actions towards meeting the 2030 target.

The meeting is also reviewing countries’ progress since the 2022 Political Declaration and the Fourth Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety held in Marrakech, Morocco, in 2025.