Industry Leaders, Regulators Converge at NAISU 2026 to Shape Nigeria’s Clean Mobility Future
By Daphne Uduneje
Nigeria’s automotive industry is set for another defining moment as leading vehicle manufacturers, transport regulators, policymakers and technology providers prepare to converge in Lagos for the 2026 Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU), a gathering expected to shape the next phase of the country’s transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered transportation.
The summit, organised by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) in collaboration with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), comes at a time when the Federal Government is intensifying efforts to reduce transportation costs, deepen local automotive manufacturing and accelerate the adoption of cleaner energy solutions under its broader industrialisation agenda.
Scheduled for Thursday, July 30, 2026, at the Radisson Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, the third edition
Industry Leaders, Regulators Converge at NAISU 2026 to Shape Nigeria’s Clean Mobility Future
By Daphne Uduneje
Nigeria’s automotive industry is set for another defining moment as leading vehicle manufacturers, transport regulators, policymakers and technology providers prepare to converge in Lagos for the 2026 Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU), a gathering expected to shape the next phase of the country’s transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered transportation.
The summit, organised by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) in collaboration with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), comes at a time when the Federal Government is intensifying efforts to reduce transportation costs, deepen local automotive manufacturing and accelerate the adoption of cleaner energy solutions under its broader industrialisation agenda.
Scheduled for Thursday, July 30, 2026, at the Radisson Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, the third edition of the annual summit will be held under the theme: “Nigeria’s Clean Mobility Future: The EV and CNG Journey Under the Bola Tinubu Administration.”
This year’s event has already attracted strong backing from major automobile brands and industry players, reflecting growing confidence in the country’s emerging clean mobility ecosystem. Among the companies that have confirmed participation are Weststar Associates Limited, Toyota (Nigeria) Limited, Jetour Nigeria, Carloha Nigeria, Simba Group, Cedric Masters Group, Coscharis Motors and Lanre Shittu Motors, alongside financial institutions, fleet operators, investors and technology providers.
The calibre of participants expected at the summit underscores the increasing momentum behind Nigeria’s efforts to reposition its automotive industry through cleaner transportation technologies while creating new opportunities for investment, manufacturing and infrastructure development.
The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, will deliver a keynote address focusing on road safety regulation and the integration of electric and CNG-powered vehicles into Nigeria’s transport ecosystem. His presentation is expected to examine the evolving regulatory framework required to ensure that the country’s clean mobility transition is supported by robust safety standards and enforcement mechanisms.
Also expected to provide strategic policy direction are the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Joseph Osanipin, and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG and EV), Ismaeel Ahmed.
The two government officials are expected to outline ongoing initiatives aimed at expanding alternative fuel adoption, strengthening local vehicle assembly, encouraging private investment and positioning Nigeria as a competitive automotive manufacturing hub within Africa.
Chairman of the 2026 Auto Summit Planning Committee, Rasheed Bisiriyu, described the summit as timely, noting that Nigeria is entering a critical phase in its transition towards cleaner transportation.
According to him, the forum will bring together policymakers, manufacturers, regulators, energy experts and transport stakeholders to evaluate the progress of ongoing reforms while identifying practical solutions to existing policy, financing and infrastructure challenges.
He observed that although the Federal Government has introduced several initiatives to promote EV and CNG adoption, sustained collaboration between the public and private sectors remains essential to achieve meaningful industry transformation.
Bisiriyu said discussions at the summit would examine key issues including the expansion of EV charging infrastructure, the development of CNG refuelling stations, local vehicle assembly, consumer awareness, investment opportunities and the boys regulatory framework needed to sustain long-term growth.