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Nigeria on the path to zero-emission road transport system
Nigeria must have been sitting on a keg of gun powder with its rising air pollution emanating from gas flaring and vehicle emissions.
A new survey by some university researchers has established a link between poor academics in childhood and air pollution exposure.
Indeed, the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health research result published in the journal of Science Daily says children exposed to elevated levels of air pollution are more likely to have poor inhibitory control during late childhood and poor academic skills in early adolescence, including spelling, reading comprehension and math skills.
The World Health Organisation has also released a report indicating that air pollution is responsible for about seven million annual deaths globally.
Nine out of 10 persons are said to currently breathe air exceeding the WHO guideline limit for pollutants.
Road transport is also said to be a major contributor to greenhouse gases and air pollution, just as flaring of gas, emanating from oil production, is rife with its huge economic losses and incalculable health hazards to Nigerians.
The carbon dioxide, methane and soot released as a result of gas flaring are said to cause health issues such as cancer and lung damage, deformities in children, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, neurological and reproductive problems as well as environmental challenges which stall agricultural productivity and aquatic and wildlife lives.
And this has led to social unrest in the Niger Delta oil producing area, escalating to other places as agitators have engaged in violent protests including bombing of oil facilities, kidnapping of oil workers and killings. They complain that their natural environment, farmlands, fishing ponds and other forms of life have been damaged or distorted.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation recently confirmed the huge loss resulting from gas flaring, saying the country lost an about N53.26bn in the first two months of this year as a total of 33.04 billion standard cubic feet of natural gas was flared by international oil companies and local players.
The World Bank reports through the Global Gas Flaring Tracker that Nigeria and six other nations (Russia, Iraq, Iran, the United States, Algeria and Venezuela) have been top gas-flarers of the world for nine years.
Even as they produce 40 per cent of the world’s oil each year, it says these countries account for about two-thirds (65 per cent) of global gas flaring.
Although the Federal Government has imposed a fine on oil companies involved in gas flaring and fixed 2025 as the date to end the flaring practice after several changes of past deadlines, experts are of the view the gas flares could be a huge revenue worth billions of dollars if well harnessed.
Experts including John Walke, director of the Clean Air Project, say air pollution not only contributes to climate change but is also exacerbated by it.
“Most air pollution comes from energy use and production…Burning fossil fuels releases gases and chemicals into the air,” says Walke.
Nigeria is said to have some of the worst air pollution in the world, with clouds of choking soot hanging over gridlocked cities, leading to a rise in serious health conditions and damaged vehicles.
Global Alliance on Heath and Pollution in a report ranks Nigeria third in the world for pollution-related deaths and sixth in premature deaths caused by air pollution.
An international resource watchdog group, Stakeholder Democracy Network, in a report, estimates that 114,000 people die prematurely from air pollution each year in Nigeria.
Many people in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, are said to be breathing polluted air leading to avoidable deaths. Indeed, a recent World Bank report estimated that air pollution caused over 11,200 premature deaths in Lagos, with children accounting for about 60 per cent.
The health cost of air pollution was put at $2.1 billion, which was about 1.3 per cent of Lagos State’s gross domestic product GDP.
This is not surprising considering about 13 million of mostly old cars imported from Europe and Japan on the nation’s roads, and hundreds of thousands of inefficient generators used by households and businesses for electricity emitting thick smokes.
Researchers have found fuel imported from Europe and pumped into filling stations in Nigeria as extremely toxic. They found that such fuel extremely exceeded the EU pollution limits.
“Our research suggests that Nigeria is having dirty fuel dumped on it that cannot be sold to other countries with higher and better implemented standards. The situation is so bad that the average diesels sampled are of even lower quality that that produced by artisanal refining camps in the creeks of the Niger delta,” said Florence Kayemba, SDN programme manager.
The SDN report reinforces allegations made in a 2016 Public Eye investigation and a Dutch government report in 2018, that European refineries and commodity brokers were blending crude oil with benzene and other carcinogenic chemicals to create fuels hundreds of times over European pollution limits for the weakly-regulated African market.
This was said to be causing significant particulate pollution, damage to vehicles, and adverse health effect s for the residents.
The WHO in 2016 adjudged Onitsha as the world’s most polluted city, recording a concentration of PM10s – soot particles – at 594 micrograms per cubic metre; compared with the WHO safe limit of 66.
For instance, the air quality in Port Harcourt, Aba, Onitsha and Kaduna has reached crisis levels of pollution in recent years, with rising cases of asthma, lung, heart and respiratory diseases.
The SDN report says the levels of particulate matter in Port Harcourt and Lagos are 20 per cent worse than Delhi in India, the most polluted capital city in the world, where emergency levels of photochemical smogs are common.
“High levels of pollution and pre-existing respiratory and other health conditions may increase the risk that COVID-19 poses to the health of the population,” said Matthew Halstead of Noctis, which conducted the laboratory research.
The introduction of ECO Bus transport system, powered by flare gas recovered compressed natural gas (CNG), to Nigeria is therefore considered a big relief and blessing as it will not only solve the problem of gas flaring and but provide a better economic alternative to the meagre flaring fines as well as address the air pollution headache.
This must have also informed the decision of the FG to encourage the conversion of petrol engine vehicles to gas engine automobiles.
It recently unveiled plans to deliver one million vehicles converted from petrol to gas-powered by the end of the year.
The Director-General, National Automotive Design and Development Council, Jelani Aliyu, says the Federal Government is excited about the gas-powered vehicles and will do everything possible to ensure the success of the project.
Aliyu, who spoke at the recent opening ceremony of the 15th edition of the annual Lagos Motor Fair organised by the BKG Exhibitions, also said the NADDC was working with major players in the auto industry in Nigeria to fast-track the transition.
He said, “We are excited about the gas-powered vehicles and I’m particularly delighted to see some of them on display at this auto fair.
“We encourage other players to look at the auto gas project as the government is determined to make it work with plan to deliver one million vehicles converted from petrol to gas-powered by the end of the year.”
The ECO Bus project is said to aim at developing world’s cleanest mass transportation systems, tailored towards the respective environment of each city with a focus on flare gas based CNG operation.
It plans to reduce carbon footprints and other GHG per passenger by 80 per cent, overall costs of public transport per passenger by 30 per cent, and accident rate by 80 per cent.
It is considered to have high operational excellence, safety and comfort as well as transparency, creating a reliable business model.
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Winpart by CFAO, CFAO Solidarity Advance Child Welfare Through Bethesda Foundation Initiative
Winpart by CFAO, CFAO Solidarity Advance Child Welfare Through Bethesda Foundation Initiative
Winpart by CFAO, in collaboration with CFAO Solidarity, has reinforced its commitment to community development and social impact by supporting the Bethesda Child Support Foundation, a gesture aimed at expanding care, education and empowerment opportunities for vulnerable children while strengthening sustainable development initiatives across the communities where the CFAO Group operates.
The donation forms part of a broader corporate social responsibility initiative designed to support organisations making measurable differences in the lives of disadvantaged people.
Through the intervention, CFAO Solidarity and Winpart by CFAO presented €7,000 and ₦1 million to the Foundation to bolster its programmes focused on child care, protection, education and holistic development.
Speaking during the presentation ceremony, the Deputy Managing Director of CFAO Mobility Nigeria, Kunle Jaiyesimi, said the company believes business growth must be accompanied by meaningful contributions to society.
“At CFAO, we believe that business success must go hand in hand with social responsibility. Our support for the Bethesda Child Support Foundation reflects our commitment to backing initiatives that create meaningful and lasting impact in the lives of children and communities,” he said.
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Jaiyesimi noted that the intervention aligns with the company’s broader vision of promoting sustainable community development through strategic partnerships with organisations delivering tangible social impact.
The project is one of several initiatives selected and funded by CFAO Solidarity, the Group’s employee-led solidarity programme, which supports impactful community projects across the countries and communities where CFAO operates. Working with credible partner organisations, the programme seeks to improve the lives of vulnerable populations while driving positive and lasting social change.
Also speaking at the event, the General Manager of Winpart by CFAO, Eric Fantodji, said the company was proud to support an organisation dedicated to giving vulnerable children hope and opportunities for a better future.
“The work being done by the Bethesda Child Support Foundation is truly inspiring. We are honoured to support a cause that provides care, hope and opportunities to children who deserve the chance to build brighter futures. Through CFAO Solidarity, we are proud to be part of a wider movement supporting impactful community projects across our areas of operation,” he said.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the Foundation, Olamide Adeleye expressed gratitude to Winpart by CFAO and CFAO Solidarity, describing the support as a significant boost to the Foundation’s mission.
“We are deeply grateful to Winpart by CFAO and CFAO Solidarity for their generosity and belief in our mission. This support will contribute significantly to the welfare, development, and empowerment of the children under our care,” she said.
The initiative further underscores CFAO’s commitment to sustainable development and community engagement, highlighting the value of partnerships between the private sector and social institutions in creating lasting benefits for vulnerable communities.
Through interventions such as this, CFAO Mobility Nigeria and CFAO Solidarity continue to strengthen their commitment to building resilient communities, supporting vulnerable groups and advancing inclusive, sustainable development across the regions where the CFAO Group operates.
Winpart by CFAO, CFAO Solidarity Advance Child Welfare Through Bethesda Foundation Initiative
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Auto Tariff Reforms Must Not Undermine Nigeria’s Manufacturing Drive, NAMA Warns
Auto Tariff Reforms Must Not Undermine Nigeria’s Manufacturing Drive, NAMA Warns
The Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA) has urged the Federal Government to align its 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures with stronger industrial protection policies, warning that tariff liberalisation without adequate safeguards could undermine years of investment in Nigeria’s automotive manufacturing sector.
In a policy position submitted to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and copied to the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), the association said while the new fiscal measures support regional trade integration, they could weaken local vehicle assembly if not complemented by incentives that protect domestic manufacturers and encourage further investment.
The position paper, signed by NAMA Chairman, Mr. Bawo Omagbitse, and Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Harpreet Singh, commended the Federal Government for pursuing economic reforms and aligning trade policies with the ECOWAS Common External Tariff and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It also welcomed initiatives promoting locally assembled vehicles, the End-of-Life Vehicle Policy and the Vehicle Conformity Assessment Programme.
However, NAMA expressed concern that the reduced duty gap between imported fully built vehicles and locally assembled units could erode the competitive advantage required for Nigeria’s emerging automotive industry to grow.
“Nigeria’s automotive industry is still at an infant to intermediate stage. Affordability for buyers and protection for the investment that creates jobs are not in conflict, and our appeal is that the two move together,” Omagbitse said.
The association cited Nigerian Ports Authority figures showing vehicle imports increased by 67 per cent, from 35,262 units in the first quarter of 2025 to 58,870 units during the same period in 2026. According to NAMA, the sharp rise suggests importers anticipated lower tariffs on fully built vehicles even before the latest fiscal measures took effect.
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It warned that accelerated liberalisation could further increase vehicle imports, reduce local assembly volumes, weaken capacity utilisation and discourage investment in assembly plants and component manufacturing, including tyres, batteries, plastics, automotive glass and other locally sourced parts.
While reaffirming support for the government’s objectives of improving affordability, boosting revenue and promoting regional integration, Dr. Singh stressed that successful automotive nations first strengthened domestic manufacturing before opening their markets.
“Our request is simply that these gains be sequenced with the industrial incentives that every successful automotive economy put in place before opening its market,” he said.
NAMA pointed to countries such as Thailand, Morocco, South Africa and China as examples of economies that built competitive automotive industries through a combination of tariff protection, production incentives, supplier development programmes, export support and improved infrastructure before embracing wider market liberalisation.
Reviewing Nigeria’s automotive policy between 2014 and 2020, the association noted that local content development and production capacity remained below expectations largely because the Nigeria Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) lacked legislative backing and investors had insufficient long-term policy certainty.
To strengthen the industry, NAMA recommended restoring a wider tariff differential between imported and locally assembled vehicles, making consultation with NADDC and the Ministry of Industry mandatory before future automotive fiscal policy changes, and urgently passing the NAIDP into law.
It also proposed production-linked incentives, the establishment of an automotive supplier development fund, priority access to foreign exchange for industrial inputs, and dedicated energy and logistics support for manufacturers.
“Nigeria risks becoming a large vehicle consumption market without becoming a meaningful automotive manufacturing economy,” the association warned.
NAMA reaffirmed its readiness to work with the Federal Government, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Director-General of NADDC to ensure ongoing economic reforms strengthen local manufacturing while advancing Nigeria’s long-term industrialisation agenda.
Auto Tariff Reforms Must Not Undermine Nigeria’s Manufacturing Drive, NAMA Warns
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FRSC, NADDC, SON to Lead Talks on Safe EV, CNG Rollout at NAJA Auto Summit
FRSC, NADDC, SON to Lead Talks on Safe EV, CNG Rollout at NAJA Auto Summit
Nigeria’s push towards cleaner transportation will receive a major boost on July 30, 2026 as the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Joseph Osanipin; the Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, and the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Samuel Adeyemi, headline the 3rd Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) Auto Summit with strategic presentations aimed at charting a safe and sustainable roadmap for Nigeria’s electric vehicle (EV) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) revolution.
The summit, scheduled to hold at the Radisson Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, is themed: “Nigeria’s Clean Mobility Future: The EV and CNG Journey Under the Bola Tinubu Administration.”
It is expected to assemble senior government officials, automotive industry leaders, manufacturers, energy experts, investors, regulators and transport stakeholders to assess Nigeria’s progress in clean mobility and outline practical steps for accelerating the transition.
At the centre of the discussions will be the FRSC Corps Marshal, who is expected to unveil a comprehensive safety framework for the deployment of EVs and CNG-powered vehicles across the country.
His presentation will address critical issues such as vehicle certification, roadworthiness standards, emergency response procedures, accident prevention, technician capacity building and public enlightenment, all of which are considered essential to ensuring the safe adoption of alternative-fuel vehicles on Nigerian roads.
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NADDC Director-General Osanipin will in his keynote examine the future of Nigeria’s automotive industry within the Federal Government’s clean mobility agenda, highlighting policy direction, industrial growth opportunities and the role of local manufacturing in driving the country’s transition to cleaner transportation.
Also taking the stage, SON Director-General Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke will speak on the development and enforcement of national standards for electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, batteries, CNG conversion kits, cylinders and refuelling stations. He is also expected to outline measures to eliminate substandard components from the market while strengthening consumer protection and confidence.
Complementing the safety discussions, Federal Fire Service Controller-General Olumode Samuel Adeyemi will focus on emergency preparedness for the emerging clean-energy transport ecosystem.
His presentation will centre on developing national response protocols for EV and CNG-related incidents and equipping firefighters and other first responders with the specialised skills required to manage such emergencies.
Speaking ahead of the summit, Chairman of the Summit Organising Committee, Rasheed Bisiriyu, described this year’s edition as one of the most significant gatherings of stakeholders in Nigeria’s automotive industry, coming at a time when the Federal Government is intensifying efforts to reduce dependence on petrol and diesel through the promotion of CNG and electric vehicles.
According to him, the summit will serve as a strategic platform to review progress made under the Bola Tinubu administration, identify implementation bottlenecks and develop practical recommendations for accelerating the nationwide adoption of clean mobility technologies.
“The NAJA Auto Summit has evolved into a respected platform where policymakers and industry operators engage in constructive dialogue on issues affecting the automotive sector. This year’s theme reflects one of the most significant transitions taking place in Nigeria’s transport industry today,” Bisiriyu said.
He added that discussions would extend beyond government policies to include investment opportunities, infrastructure expansion, financing models, consumer awareness and the regulatory framework required to support the large-scale deployment of EVs and CNG-powered vehicles.
NAJA Chairman, Theodore Opara, said the summit comes at a defining moment as Nigeria seeks cleaner, more affordable and sustainable transportation alternatives amid rising mobility costs.
While acknowledging the country’s steady progress towards clean mobility, Opara stressed that long-term success would depend on stronger collaboration among government agencies, vehicle manufacturers, infrastructure developers, energy providers and consumers.
He noted that Nigeria’s vast natural gas reserves position CNG as a viable transition fuel but warned that significant investments would still be required to expand refuelling stations, EV charging infrastructure and technical support services nationwide.
He also emphasised that safety regulation, maintenance capacity and sustained public education must keep pace with the rapid deployment of cleaner vehicle technologies to ensure a seamless transition.
Industry stakeholders believe the combined presentations by the FRSC, NADDC, SON and the Federal Fire Service will provide a comprehensive blueprint for addressing safety, quality assurance, emergency preparedness and regulatory concerns surrounding EVs and CNG-powered vehicles.
The summit is expected to produce actionable recommendations that will guide policymakers, regulators, investors and industry operators as Nigeria accelerates its journey towards a cleaner, safer, more efficient and environmentally sustainable transportation system.
FRSC, NADDC, SON To Lead Talks on Safe EV, CNG Rollout at NAJA Auto Summit
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