Nigeria has taken a major step towards clean mobility and industrial transformation with plans to become Africa’s first electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing country.

On behalf of the country, the Minister of State for Industry, John Enoh, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with South Korea’s Asia Economic Development Committee (AEDC) for the establishment of an EV manufacturing plant and the development of nationwide EV charging infrastructure in Nigeria.

The agreement marked a significant milestone in Nigeria’s industrialisation drive and aligns closely with the country’s National Energy Transition Plan (ETP) as well as the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP).

Both policies prioritise local manufacturing, clean energy adoption and reduced carbon emissions.

Under the partnership, the EV project will be implemented in phases. The initial phase will focus on vehicle assembly, before progressing to full-scale, in-house manufacturing.

When fully operational, the plant is projected to have a yearly production capacity of about 300,000 EVs and is expected to create about 10,000 direct and indirect jobs across the automotive value chain.

The NADDC is a key stakeholder in the initiative and announced on its X handle.

Speaking on behalf of the Director-General of NADDC, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, the Head of Policy, Planning and Statistics, Nura Sidi, said the project would significantly accelerate technology transfer, investment promotion and human capital development in Nigeria’s automotive sector.

According to him, the collaboration will also strengthen research, design and innovation capabilities, positioning Nigeria as a hub for advanced automotive technologies in Africa.

Industry observers said the move underscored Nigeria’s growing ambition to build a sustainable automotive ecosystem that supports local manufacturing, reduces dependence on fossil fuels and enhances global competitiveness.