The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has introduced the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for the conversion, calibration, and maintenance of gas-powered and electric vehicles in Nigeria. This initiative is part of ongoing efforts to professionalise technical skills in the auto industry and support the country’s transition to cleaner, alternative energy vehicles.
The public presentation of the standards was held on Wednesday in Abuja and drew the attendance of industry stakeholders, government officials, and technical partners. The development comes amid a surge in the number of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered vehicles in Nigeria, which has risen from fewer than 4,000 to over 100,000 as of June 2025. The government is targeting one million CNG vehicles on Nigerian roads by the end of 2027.
Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, who officiated at the event, hailed the introduction of the standards as a concrete demonstration of the federal government’s commitment to technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
He said, “Our history has been characterised by too much talk and too many activities that lead us nowhere. I’m happy to be part of this public presentation of the National Occupational Standards for CNG and electric vehicles. We are now getting more practical and it is in being practical that we can get the results that we need as a people and as a country.”
Senator Enoh added that the development of NOS will help create specialised training programs that will lay a strong foundation for sustainable industrial growth and employment generation. “Standardisation is key. Through these national professional standards, we can ensure that our training is not just specialised but also standardised. We are equipping our youths with the expertise required to compete favourably in the global automotive industry,” he said.
The Minister also stressed the importance of partnerships in achieving the objectives of Nigeria’s automotive transformation agenda. “We need to work together to achieve our goals,” he said.
Director-General of NADDC, Joseph Osanipin, described the unveiling of the NOS as part of the council’s wider strategy to promote skill development, encourage environmental sustainability, and support the government’s energy transition efforts.
“The NOS gives a clear statement of what a learner must know or be able to do, whether the learning took place in a classroom or on the job,” he said. “We worked with key stakeholders in the industry to develop the NOS, which has now been approved by the National Board for Technical Education for training, assessment, and certification.”
Osanipin further revealed that the NADDC is playing a leading role in pushing for the adoption of CNG as a cleaner alternative to petrol and diesel, with plans underway for Nigeria to begin exporting vehicles and automotive machinery in the near future.
He outlined that the NOS documents were developed across various areas of automotive operations including:
- Automotive Mechatronics (Light Vehicles) – 18 NOSs across five levels
- Motorcycles – 20 NOSs across three levels
- Tricycles – 21 NOSs across three levels
- Agricultural Technology (Tractors and Heavy-Duty Vehicles) – 12 NOSs across three levels
Also launched at the event was an Information Guide on CNG Retrofitting, aimed at standardising practices among retrofitting centres to ensure safe and efficient installation of CNG systems in vehicles. The guide is expected to boost investor and consumer confidence in the sector, as well as reduce the environmental impact of traditional fuel use.
In addition, the event featured the inauguration of the newly elected executives of the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for the automotive industry. The SSC is tasked with promoting skills development and industry collaboration in the Nigerian auto sector.
DG Osanipin concluded by reaffirming the NADDC’s commitment to continuous collaboration with stakeholders to advance the automotive industry in Nigeria. “We will continue to partner with stakeholders to drive the auto industry to its well-deserved place globally,” he said.
