The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has commended SAGLEV Electromobility Nigeria Limited for pioneering electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing in Nigeria, describing the company’s facility as the first fully electric vehicle assembly plant in sub-Saharan Africa. The NADDC made this known during a recent familiarisation tour of the SAGLEV assembly plant located in Imota, Ikorodu, Lagos.
The NADDC Director General, Mr. Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, who was represented by the council’s Deputy Director of Media and Protocol, Mrs. Felcia Oyebolu, described the plant as meeting international standards and capable of assembling a wide range of electric vehicles, including commercial buses.
“This plant is of international standard with a capacity to assemble different categories of electric vehicles, including buses,” she said.
She explained that the tour was part of the council’s ongoing initiative to visit auto assemblers and manufacturers across all six geopolitical zones in the country, with the aim of promoting Nigeria’s automotive industry and raising public awareness about locally assembled vehicles.
“There are many Nigerians who do not know they can easily buy brand new locally assembled vehicles in Nigeria,” she said. “Our visit also helps us to understand their challenges and continue supporting them. We have just completed a tour of the South-East and are now in the South-West. Next week we will be heading to the North-West.”
In line with the Federal Government’s “Nigeria First” policy, she urged Nigerians to reduce reliance on imports and instead patronise made-in-Nigeria vehicles. She also noted that participation in the tour programme is free for stakeholders, as it is fully funded by the government.
The Chairman of SAGLEV Incorporated, a US-based company and parent firm of SAGLEV Electromobility Nigeria Limited, Dr. Samuel Faleye, expressed gratitude to the NADDC for its ongoing support in developing the EV sector in Nigeria.
Dr. Faleye said that his company has had a long-standing relationship with the NADDC, working together for over five years to realise the dream of building Nigeria’s EV industry.
“Despite the economic challenges in Nigeria, the NADDC has been consistent in pushing for electric vehicles,” he stated. “They ensured we were a certified assembler, inspected our facilities, and helped us when we faced issues with our Import Duty Exemption Certificate (IDEC).”
He also praised the council’s commitment to capacity building, revealing that 80% of the technicians at the SAGLEV plant were trained through a NADDC scheme in partnership with Automedics, a board member of the council. According to him, Nigeria has had a dedicated electric vehicle technician curriculum for over eight years, developed in collaboration with Automedics.
“One of NADDC’s biggest achievements is its focus on building local capacity and encouraging automotive components manufacturing, including high-quality leather upholstery,” he said.
Dr. Faleye highlighted the importance of NADDC’s efforts in keeping potential EV investors in Nigeria, noting that while many investors had previously moved to countries like Morocco, SAGLEV was able to remain and establish operations in Nigeria because of the council’s continued support.
Before beginning operations six months ago, SAGLEV received certification from Dongfeng, the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) they represent. According to Dr. Faleye, this certification was a prerequisite before assembling activities could commence. He credited the NADDC for helping create awareness about the plant’s launch.
Located in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State, the SAGLEV EV assembly plant sits on a landmass of over 8,000 square metres, with 5,000 square metres dedicated to the assembly floor. The facility is the largest of its kind in the region and marks a milestone for Nigeria’s automotive industry.
Dr. Faleye concluded by urging Nigerians to support locally assembled electric vehicles and help grow the country’s automotive industry in line with government policy.
Also in attendance at the event were representatives of four banks with strong interest in renewable energy. These financial institutions are partnering with SAGLEV to ensure the sustainability of electric vehicle manufacturing and related infrastructure in Nigeria.
