ACCI, NADDC, Surge Africa Advocates Nigeria’s E-Mobility Infrastructure

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), in partnership with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and Surge Africa, has called for urgent action to advance electric mobility infrastructure in Nigeria.

The call was made in Abuja on Wednesday during a high-level roundtable dialogue to commemorate the World Sustainable Transport Day.

The event, themed “Advancing E-Mobility Infrastructure in Nigeria: Unlocking Policy, Financing, and Technical Pathways for Scalable EV Charging,” brought together government agencies, private sector leaders, development partners, investors, and technical experts.

Participants focused on overcoming barriers to EV adoption, particularly the need for a robust and scalable charging network.

Representing Professor Innocent Barikor, the Director General of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Chukwuma Nnandi-Okaybue, highlighted that electric mobility is now a core national priority, linking directly to emissions reduction, air quality, industrial competitiveness, and public health.

He said: “Electric mobility is no longer a peripheral topic. It is now tied directly to national priorities on emissions reduction, air-quality improvement, industrial competitiveness and public health.

“As the lead Agency for enforcing environmental laws, regulations, and standards across the country, NESREA has a clear role in shaping the environmental foundation of this transition.”

He stressed that the development of EV infrastructure must comply with environmental standards, noting, “The growth of charging infrastructure requires strict management of land use, electrical safety, noise levels, electromagnetic fields, and environmental monitoring.

“NESREA will expand compliance protocols for charging stations to ensure that development aligns with national regulations and global best practice.”

On battery management, Nnandi-Okaybue further explained that: “Batteries are central to the EV value chain. Their manufacture, transport, deployment, and end-of-life management have direct environmental and public health implications.

NESREA had launched and is implementing the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations and the Extended Producer Responsibility framework to guarantee traceability, safe storage, environmentally sound recycling, and pollution-free recovery.

The agency will not permit a repeat of legacy problems linked to informal handling of battery waste.”

He also emphasized cross-sector coordination, stating, “NESREA’s mandate covers coordination across key sectors. The Agency is working with NADDC, the Energy Transition Office, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Customs, and state environmental authorities to define uniform standards, close enforcement gaps, and establish clear compliance pathways for investors and operators in the EV space.

“Priority areas include a unified national framework for siting, approval, and environmental monitoring of charging stations; clear operational standards for battery handling, storage, transport, and recycling; proper data-sharing systems; and a coordinated approach linking environmental regulation with industrial development and investment planning.”

Head of Program, Energy Access at Clean Technology Hub, Daramfon Bassey noted the urgency of Nigeria’s transition to electric mobility.

He said, “Nigeria’s transition to electric mobility will not be symbolic; it will be structural, and what we do in the next few years will either enable that transition or delay it by a decade. Electric vehicles alone will not drive this transition; charging infrastructure is the backbone.”

He further highlighted the need for locally adapted solutions, stating, “Nigeria has unique realities; we cannot simply copy-paste models from Europe, China, or even South Africa.

“Our grid is unreliable, our fuel stations are not grid-ready, our cities are growing faster than our infrastructure, and over 40% of our population still lacks reliable electricity access.

“But within those challenges lies opportunity; Nigeria has one of the highest solar potentials in the world, we have over 100 operational mini-grids, we have one of Africa’s largest two-wheeler mobility markets, and we have emerging local EV manufacturers, battery swapping innovators, and renewable energy companies willing to take risks. This means our path to EV charging will not be centralized or grid-dependent alone.”

Joan Bishop, representing Surge Africa, emphasized that collaboration among stakeholders is key to achieving Nigeria’s e-mobility vision.

She said, “This conversation is at the very heart of our #DriveTheFuture Campaign, which envisions a Nigeria powered by clean, smart, and accessible transportation. Unlocking the policy, financing, and technical pathways for scalable EV charging is the critical first step to turning this vision into reality.”

She added, “We commend this initiative and are confident that your collaboration will accelerate the momentum we need. Together, let’s drive the future!”

The roundtable highlighted the shared commitment of government, private sector, and development partners to build a scalable, inclusive, and environmentally sound EV ecosystem in Nigeria.

With coordinated policies, practical solutions, and multi-stakeholder collaboration, the stakeholders aim to position Nigeria as a regional leader in clean and sustainable transport