The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has identified weak enforcement, inadequate testing facilities, incomplete standards for Electric Vehicles (EVs) and poor public awareness as some of the obstacles undermine Nigeria’s transition to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and other clean-energy transportation systems.

This is as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said that it is presently developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on EVs and CNG adoption in Nigeria in order to ensure the country complied with global practices.

The SON and FRSC stated these yesterday in Lagos at the 3rd edition of the Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU), organised by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) in conjunction with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), with the theme: ‘Nigeria’s Clean Mobility Future: ‘The EV and CNG Journey Under the President Bola Tinubu Administration.’

The Director-General of SON, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke in his presentation at the summit, warned that unless the gaps in the system are urgently addressed, the country’s drive towards cleaner, safer and more affordable transportation could be exposed to serious safety risks capable of eroding public confidence and discouraging investment.

Okeke, who was represented at the occasion by the Deputy Director, Research and Statistics, SON, Olalekan Omoniyi, said while the Federal government had continued to promote CNG and electric vehicles as alternatives to petrol and diesel-powered transportation, the success of the initiative depended on strict compliance with standards and effective regulatory oversight.

According to Okeke, CNG and EV technologies were inherently safe when designed, manufactured, installed and maintained in accordance with recognised national and international standards, but become dangerous when uncertified products and poor installation practices are allowed into the market.

Okeke, recalled a CNG cylinder explosion involving an Audi 80 at a refuelling station along the Benin-Auchi Expressway in Edo state a few years ago, incising that the incident was as a result of use of an uncertified cylinder and non-compliance with the Nigerian Gas Vehicle Installation Standard, NNG 1214:2024.

Besides, he identified the proliferation of informal and uncertified vehicle conversion workshops as one of the biggest threats facing the sector, noting that the rapid spread of grey-market CNG cylinders and conversion kits had outpaced regulatory inspection and enforcement efforts.

He added: “Nigeria’s standards framework for electric vehicles remains a work in progress, particularly in areas covering battery safety, charging interoperability, battery recycling and second-life applications. Standards must keep pace with evolving global technologies.

“Inadequate testing and laboratory infrastructure are some of the challenges, too. High-pressure cylinder testing and high-voltage battery evaluation require sustained investment in modern accredited laboratories and skilled technical personnel.”

He however declared that Nigerians must have confidence in the CNG and EVs initiative of the Federal government, stressing that EV batteries would remain safe, while certified products would consistently meet approved quality standards.

In his presentation, the Corps Marshal, FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, revealed that the corps was developing SOPs for the EVs and CNG initiative.

He declared that Nigeria’s transition to cleaner transportation must be anchored on road safety if it is to deliver its intended benefits.

He noted that as alternative fuel vehicles become more common on Nigerian roads, regulatory institutions must adapt to emerging technologies through improved enforcement, specialised training and updated operational guidelines.

Mohammed also explained that the FRSC was working with other stakeholders and government organisations to bring standards to road safety and government policies in the country.

He said: “The FRSC is already positioning itself to support the transition through enhanced safety regulations, stakeholder engagement and the development of operational frameworks for EVs and CNG-powered vehicles.

“Cleaner mobility should not only reduce emissions, but also improve road safety, vehicle standards and public confidence in emerging technologies.”

Earlier, the Chairman, NAJA, Theodore Opara, said the gathering was more than an industry conference, saying it was a strategic platform to shape the future of Nigeria’s automotive sector.

He noted that countries across the world were rapidly embracing cleaner transportation technologies to reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency and build sustainable economies, warning that Nigeria risks falling behind if it fails to accelerate its transition.