FG, Chinese Firm Partner On Local Production Of CNG, EV Infrastructure
The Federal Government has entered into a strategic partnership with a Chinese company, New Power Technology (NPT), to localise the production and assembly of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure in Nigeria.
The initiative, which has the backing of the Chinese government, is aimed at reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported equipment, promoting cleaner transportation, and strengthening local content development in the energy and transport sectors.
Under the agreement, the partners will focus on the local manufacturing and assembly of CNG dispensers, refuelling stations, EV charging facilities, and other related infrastructure across the country.
The partnership was unveiled during a meeting between Vice President Kashim Shettima and a delegation from NPT led by its representative, Mr. Liu Shihua, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday.
Speaking through the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, Shettima said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive that government institutions prioritise the procurement of CNG-powered vehicles.
According to the Vice President, the project is expected to address transportation challenges while advancing the administration’s economic and energy transition agenda.
He disclosed that the partnership also includes a major human capital development component targeted at training 100,000 Nigerians, with at least 1,000 beneficiaries expected from each state of the federation. In addition, 100 Nigerians will be sponsored to China for specialised technical training.
Shettima said the programme reflects the inclusiveness agenda of the Tinubu administration under the Renewed Hope initiative, adding that Nigeria’s youthful population and large market potential present opportunities to replicate China’s successful transportation electrification strategy.
He further welcomed China’s proposed policy and financial support for the development of EV manufacturing and charging infrastructure in Nigeria.
The Vice President also commended NPT’s plans to support technology development in areas such as chip engineering and technical talent development, particularly for women and vulnerable groups.
Earlier, NPT Chief Executive Officer, Liu Shihua, said the company’s long-term goal is to establish a comprehensive electric vehicle ecosystem in Nigeria, including battery-swapping networks, vehicle conversion systems, and digital operation platforms.
He revealed that the company plans to convert one million petrol-powered tricycles to electric tricycles within the next three years while also building 10,000 charging and battery-swapping stations nationwide.
According to him, the project is expected to generate between 40,000 and 50,000 jobs in the charging and battery-swapping sector alone.
Liu added that Chinese technical experts and engineers would be deployed to Nigeria to provide training and facilitate technology transfer.
He also disclosed plans to sponsor between 60 and 70 Nigerian students to China on fully funded programmes to strengthen local technical capacity.
Speaking further, Technical Adviser to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, Dr. Nurudeen Zauro, said the collaboration forms part of broader efforts to achieve the administration’s target of building a $1 trillion economy.
Also, the Executive Chairman of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi), Barrister Ismaeel Ahmed, described the partnership as a landmark project capable of reducing transportation costs and improving household welfare across the country.
Ahmed noted that transportation accounts for between 15 and 25 per cent of household spending in Nigeria, stressing that the initiative would significantly ease the burden on citizens while improving livelihoods.
