Nigeria has signed an agreement with South Korea to establish an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant in the country, as part of efforts to expand local production and reduce carbon emissions.
The agreement, a memorandum of understanding, was signed on 30 January by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Industry, John Enoh, and representatives of South Korea’s Asia Economic Development Committee.
Nigeria’s National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) confirmed the development in a statement on Saturday, describing it as a major step towards the country’s energy transition and industrial growth plans.
According to the council, the project will be carried out in stages, beginning with the assembly of electric vehicles and later expanding into full local production. When fully operational, the plant is expected to produce up to 300,000 vehicles annually and create about 10,000 jobs.
The NADDC said the partnership supports Nigeria’s National Energy Transition Plan and the National Automotive Industry Development Plan, both aimed at promoting cleaner energy and strengthening local manufacturing.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Director-General of the NADDC, Oluwemimo Osanipin, said the initiative would encourage technology transfer, attract investment, and support skills development, research, and innovation within Nigeria’s automotive sector. He was represented at the event by the agency’s head of policy, planning and statistics, Nura Sidi.
The council added that Nigeria is working towards building a sustainable automotive industry that supports green energy adoption and improves the country’s competitiveness in the global market.
The agreement comes amid growing interest in electric vehicles in Nigeria. Energy experts have predicted a steady rise in EV usage, with industry leaders suggesting that electric vehicles could make up half of Nigeria’s total vehicle population within the next two decades.
Lawmakers are also considering legislation to support the transition from petrol-powered cars to electric vehicles. A proposed bill aimed at reducing emissions and encouraging local EV production recently passed its second reading in the Senate.
