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FG set to build highway charging stations for electric vehicles

Published

6 years ago

March 6, 2021

Reps unveil first Nigeria-assembled e-car in Abuja

The Federal Government is set to build three electric vehicle charging stations along the highways as a pilot project to encourage people to go for e-vehicles.

The Director-General of the Nigerian Automotive Development and Design Council, Jelani Aliyu, stated this in Abuja at the unveiling of first Nigeria-assembled electric car, Hyundai Kona, by the House of Representatives.

The car was unveiled by members of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts and Management of National Automotive Design and Development Council at the National Assembly complex, Abuja.

The event was said to be a fall-out of the investigative hearing into the financial activities of ministries, departments and agencies, where the NADDC DG, Aliyu, had appeared and informed the lawmakers about the development.

He said, “We are working on building three charging stations along the highways. Right now, we are doing three pilot programmes with three universities: University of Lagos, University of Nigeria Nsukka, and Usman Dan Fodio University. We hope to expand it to the private sector to build in all localities in Nigeria.

“This, we believe, will slowly begin to take over from petrol stations because Nigeria is a signatory to the 2016 Paris Accord.”

Aliyu also explained that the electric car could travel 482km on a single charge and does not use petrol or diesel.

“You don’t need to line up at the filling station waiting for fuel. Once you charge it, you have about 482km of electric charge; no emission; no smoke; very quiet and the electric car has very far less power than the traditional petrol engine,” he said.

He said the advantage of the car was that it could be charged through any outlet used for air conditioners or refrigerators – at 220 watts or 230 watts from any normal outlet.

“It takes about eight hours to 10 hours to charge overnight, while there’s a fast charger that cuts it by 50 per cent of about eight to five hours, and there’s a super-super charger that brings it down to one hour or less.”

Responding to a question on affordability and access asked by the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Benjamin Kalu, he said, “For the common man, we are working with three domestic banks, namely: Wema, Jaiz and Zenith, to provide single-digit financing for made-in-Nigeria vehicles or assembled-in-Nigeria vehicles.

“We believe it will not just be for this type of vehicle but any other vehicle produced by Innoson, Honda, Elizade, Dangote.”

He was optimistic that the current price of N24m would drop over the years, adding that efforts were ongoing to build industrial parks in Edo, Kaduna and Nnewi, where more local content will be infused into the product.

Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Oluwole Oke, lauded the Council for the project.

Related Topics:charging station EV Featured FG

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NADDC Pushes Affordable Auto Loans to Boost Vehicle Ownership, More Jobs

Published

1 day ago

September 21, 2026

Trends Admin

NADDC Pushes Affordable Auto Loans to Boost Vehicle Ownership, More Job

The National Automotive Design and Development Council has called for far-reaching reforms in vehicle financing to make car ownership more affordable while boosting local vehicle assembly, job creation and industrial development.

The Council said a properly structured financing system could turn vehicle credit from a mere consumer lending product into a major economic tool for expanding productive mobility and strengthening Nigeria’s automotive value chain.

Director-General of NADDC, Otunba Joseph Oluwemimo Osanipin, stated this in an address delivered on his behalf by the Council’s Principal Information Officer, Tanko Kyumnom, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Auto Sectoral Group Symposium in Lagos.

The symposium, held on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at the Henry Fajemirokun Hall of LCCI, was themed: “From Subsidy to Credit: Can Vehicle Financing Replace Fuel Subsidy as Nigeria’s Mobility Equaliser?”
Osanipin said the growing cost of mobility had made it necessary to explore financing models that would enable individuals, businesses and transport operators to acquire vehicles without bearing the full cost of ownership upfront.

According to him, spreading vehicle payments over an agreed period could provide a more sustainable pathway to vehicle acquisition, provided that the financing products are affordable, accessible and structured around the economic realities of Nigerian consumers.

He, however, cautioned that simply making credit available would not be enough.
“Vehicle financing offers a more sustainable approach by enabling individuals, businesses and transport operators to acquire vehicles and pay for them over time,” Osanipin stated.
The NADDC DG said the bigger opportunity lies in linking vehicle financing with the growth of locally assembled and Nigerian-made vehicles.

He explained that increased access to credit for locally produced vehicles could generate wider economic benefits by stimulating demand for domestic assembly, supporting component manufacturers, creating jobs and strengthening local supply chains.

Osanipin therefore urged stronger collaboration among government institutions, financial institutions, vehicle manufacturers and other stakeholders in designing financing schemes capable of supporting both mobility access and automotive industrialisation.

The NADDC boss identified affordable vehicle loans, leasing arrangements, fleet financing, credit guarantees and appropriate interest-rate support as mechanisms that could broaden access to vehicle ownership and productive mobility.

lt also stressed the need for repayment structures that take into account the earning patterns and business realities of Nigerians, particularly transport operators and small businesses whose vehicles are directly linked to their income-generating activities.

Osanipin maintained that the objective should extend beyond increasing the number of vehicles on Nigerian roads.
“The goal is not simply to put more vehicles on Nigerian roads. It is to ensure that Nigerians can access productive mobility without placing an unsustainable burden on government finances or household incomes,” he said.

According to him, a properly structured automotive financing system could create a stronger connection between mobility, economic inclusion and domestic vehicle production.

“With the right policies and partnerships, vehicle financing can become a powerful instrument for mobility, economic inclusion and automotive industrial development,” Osanipin added.

The NADDC’s position places vehicle financing within the broader effort to build a sustainable automotive ecosystem in Nigeria—one in which access to credit supports vehicle users while also creating stronger demand for local assembly, components and associated automotive services.

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Jetour T1 Storms Abuja as Automaker Accelerates Nigeria Expansion

Published

1 day ago

September 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Jetour T1 Set to debut in Abuja as Expansion Gains Momentum

Following a successful debut in Lagos, Jetour Nigeria will host the Jetour Experience Abuja from September 22 to 24, 2026, positioning its all-new T1 model as a major competitor in the country’s growing adventure SUV market.

The three-day event in the Federal Capital Territory will give prospective buyers and motoring enthusiasts direct access to product demonstrations, expert-led technical sessions, and hands-on test drives.

“Strong participation, extensive test drives, and significant sales enquiries at the Lagos edition, coupled with growing demand from Abuja residents, influenced the decision to bring the experience to the nation’s capital,” the company said in a statement. The show holds at Maha Event Centre, Area 8, Garki.

To support its growing national footprint, Jetour Nigeria has established a network of seven accredited dealers: Elizade Nigeria Limited, New Era AutoVehicle Services Limited, Kojo Motors, Germaine Auto Centre, Tab Autos Limited, R.T. Briscoe Motors, and Mandilas Autos. The partnerships cover retail sales, genuine spare parts supply, and comprehensive after-sales maintenance.

Jetour T1 Set to debut in Abuja as Expansion Gains Momentum

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Abuja Demand Rises as Jetour Brings X70 Plus Experience to FCT

Published

3 days ago

September 20, 2026

Trends Admin

Abuja Demand Rises as Jetour Brings X70 Plus Experience to FCT

Jetour Nigeria is taking its seven-seater X70 Plus SUV to Abuja as rising interest from motorists in the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring states fuels the brand’s latest push to deepen its presence across Nigeria.

The X70 Plus will headline the Jetour Experience Abuja, holding from September 22 to 24 at Maha Event Centre, Area 8, Garki, following the strong response recorded during the Lagos edition, where motorists turned out for test drives and made enquiries about Jetour models.

The Abuja activation is designed to give prospective buyers direct access to the X70 Plus and other models, with opportunities to test-drive the vehicles, engage product specialists and experience their technology, safety and comfort features.

The X70 Plus is positioned as a family-oriented SUV, offering seven-seat capacity and a range of features targeted at customers seeking comfort, technology and practicality.

The SUV is available with 1.5-litre and 1.6-litre turbocharged engine options, with outputs of up to 145kW and 290Nm of torque, paired with a dual-clutch automatic transmission.