Nigeria’s push toward cleaner transportation is set to take center stage later this month as the 2026 Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU) convenes in Lagos, with major automobile manufacturers, federal regulators, and transport agencies confirming their participation. The event, scheduled for July 30, 2026, at the Radisson Hotel in Ikeja, reflects a coordinated effort to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and compressed natural gas (CNG) technology across the country.
Key Industry Players and Government Backing
Organized by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) in partnership with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), the summit has secured commitments from a broad cross-section of the automotive sector. Among the confirmed participants are Weststar Associates Limited, Toyota (Nigeria) Limited, Jetour Nigeria, Carloha Nigeria, Simba Group, Cedric Masters Group, Coscharis Motors, and Lanre Shittu Motors. Policymakers, investors, financial institutions, fleet operators, and technology providers are also expected to attend.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) will be represented at the highest level. Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed has confirmed his role as a keynote speaker, with his remarks expected to cover road safety, regulatory frameworks, and the practical deployment of EVs and CNG-powered vehicles on Nigerian roads.
Other confirmed speakers include Joseph Osanipin, director-general of NADDC, and Ismaeel Ahmed, chairman and chief executive officer of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG and EV). Both are expected to outline the federal government’s automotive industrialization agenda and clean mobility policies, as well as ongoing efforts to boost EV and CNG adoption.
Summit Theme and Timing
The third edition of NAISU will be held under the theme: “Nigeria’s Clean Mobility Future: The EV and CNG Journey Under the Bola Tinubu Administration.” According to Rasheed Bisiriyu, chairman of the 2026 Auto Summit Planning Committee, the event arrives at a pivotal moment as Nigeria intensifies its push for cleaner transportation through policy reforms and investment incentives.
“The summit comes at a critical period when Nigeria is implementing policies aimed at reducing transportation costs, lowering carbon emissions, and encouraging greater investment in alternative energy mobility solutions,” Bisiriyu said. He added that discussions will review progress made under the Tinubu administration in promoting EV and CNG adoption, while also identifying policy, infrastructure, and financing gaps that require urgent attention.
Focus on Infrastructure, Local Assembly, and Investment
Bisiriyu noted that participants will examine strategies for expanding EV charging infrastructure and CNG refuelling stations, promoting local vehicle assembly, improving consumer awareness, attracting private sector investment, and strengthening the regulatory framework needed to support sustainable transportation.
Theodore Opara, NAJA chairman, emphasized that the annual Auto Summit has evolved into one of Nigeria’s foremost automotive policy dialogue platforms. He stressed that achieving the country’s clean mobility objectives requires broad collaboration among regulators, manufacturers, energy providers, transport operators, safety agencies, and consumers.
“We are bringing together regulators, manufacturers, energy providers, transport operators, safety agencies, and consumers because the transition to clean mobility requires collective action,” Opara said. “The objective is not only to discuss policy but also to identify practical solutions that will accelerate Nigeria’s journey towards affordable, cleaner, and more sustainable transportation.”
Expected Outcomes and Broader Context
Organizers said the summit is expected to generate actionable recommendations to support the federal government’s drive to deepen investment in alternative fuel technologies, strengthen local automotive manufacturing, improve transport sustainability, and position Nigeria as a leading player in Africa’s emerging clean mobility ecosystem.
With participation already confirmed by leading automotive brands, regulators, and other key stakeholders, the 2026 NAISU is shaping up to be one of Nigeria’s most influential gatherings on the future of the automotive industry and the country’s transition to cleaner, more sustainable mobility.
