By Justina Okpanku
Leading brands in the nation’s automobile business and regulators in the road sector as well as government agencies, have confirmed their participation in the forthcoming 2026 Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU), signalling growing support for Nigeria’s transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered transportation.
The third edition of the summit, organised by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) in collaboration with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), would be held on Thursday, July 30, 2026 in Lagos.
This year’s summit is with the theme: ‘Nigeria’s Clean Mobility Future: The EV and CNG Journey Under the Bola Tinubu Administration.’
Major automobile companies that have confirmed participation include 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.
Corps Marshal, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, would deliver the keynote address focusing on road safety, regulation and the deployment of EVs and CNG-powered vehicles across the country.
Also billed to speak are the Director General of NADDC, Joseph Osanipin and the Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG/EV), Ismaeel Ahmed.
The key figures are expected to outline the Federal government’s automotive industrialisation agenda, clean mobility policies and efforts to accelerate the adoption of alternative fuel vehicles.
Chairman of the 2026 Auto Summit Planning Committee, Rasheed Bisiriyu, described the event as timely, noting that Nigeria was intensifying efforts to promote cleaner transportation through electric and gas-powered vehicles.
According to him, the summit would bring together government officials, automotive manufacturers, regulators, energy experts and transport stakeholders to evaluate ongoing reforms and develop practical strategies for advancing Nigeria’s clean mobility agenda.
“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 participants would review progress recorded under the Bola Tinubu administration in promoting EV and CNG adoption while identifying policy, infrastructure and financing gaps requiring urgent attention.
Discussions, he said, would also focus on expanding EV charging infrastructure and CNG refuelling stations, promoting local vehicle assembly, increasing consumer awareness, attracting private sector investment and strengthening the regulatory framework needed to support sustainable transportation.
NAJA Chairman, Theodore Opara, said the annual Auto Summit had become one of Nigeria’s leading platforms for automotive policy dialogue, bringing together public and private sector stakeholders to address challenges confronting the industry.
Opara stressed that achieving Nigeria’s clean mobility goals requires 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.
“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,” Opara said.
The summit is expected to produce actionable recommendations to support the Federal government’s efforts to deepen investment in alternative fuel technologies, strengthen local automotive manufacturing, improve transport sustainability and position Nigeria as a major player in Africa’s emerging clean mobility ecosystem.
