Vice-President Kashim Shettima has urged Nigerian automobile manufacturers to accelerate the production of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric vehicles (EVs), highlighting the critical role these technologies play in the country’s energy transition and economic diversification.

Shettima made the appeal during a meeting with executives from Roxettes Motors, an indigenous automotive company leading efforts in sustainable mobility. He commended the company for its initiatives in locally assembling electric and CNG-powered vehicles, describing them as a major step toward reducing carbon emissions and curbing reliance on imported fossil fuels.

“Supporting innovative local manufacturers in the electric and CNG vehicle sector is essential for Nigeria’s economic growth and environmental sustainability,” Shettima said. “The government is committed to creating an enabling environment for this sector to thrive.”

Roxettes Motors’ Managing Director, Dr. Kaycee Orji, outlined plans to establish an assembly plant in Obuaku City, Abia State, with an annual production capacity of 40,000 vehicles. The company also intends to set up an “automotive university” aimed at training skilled technicians in EV and CNG technologies.

Orji emphasized that expanding the adoption of electric and CNG vehicles would not only reduce transportation costs but also generate jobs, promote local content, and contribute to Nigeria’s climate goals.

Shettima reaffirmed the government’s commitment to collaborating with manufacturers to support the mass deployment of CNG and electric buses, the establishment of industrial parks for local production of vehicle components, and the implementation of national standards for training and safety in the sector.

“This partnership between government and industry is key to positioning Nigeria as a leader in green mobility in Africa,” he said. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.