Nigeria Taps South Korea to Build Africa’s First EV Manufacturing Hub

Nigeria has taken a bold step toward redefining Africa’s automotive and clean-energy future with the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at establishing the continent’s first large-scale Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturing nation.
On January 30, 2026, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), signed the MoU with South Korea’s Asia Economic Development Committee (AEDC). The agreement was executed by Senator John Owan Enoh, Minister of State for Industry, on behalf of the Nigerian government.

Details of the agreement were disclosed by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, @NADDCouncil, positioning the social media platform as a primary source of public communication on the initiative.

According to NADDC, the collaboration will focus on the establishment of an electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Nigeria, alongside the deployment of critical EV charging infrastructure across the country. The project is designed to support Nigeria’s transition to cleaner energy and strengthen its industrial base.

The initiative aligns directly with two major national policy frameworks: the National Energy Transition Plan (ETP) and the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP). These policies seek to reduce carbon emissions, promote sustainable transportation, deepen local manufacturing, and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global automotive industry.

Implementation of the project will be phased. The initial phase will concentrate on EV assembly operations, while subsequent stages will expand into full-scale, in-house vehicle production. When fully operational, the manufacturing facility is projected to have an annual production capacity of up to 300,000 electric vehicles and is expected to create approximately 10,000 jobs, spanning manufacturing, engineering, logistics, research, and support services.

The National Automotive Design and Development Council, Nigeria’s apex automotive regulatory and development agency, described the agreement as a transformative milestone for the sector.

Representing the Director-General of NADDC, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, the Head of Policy, Planning and Statistics, Mr. Nura Sidi, reaffirmed that the partnership will significantly accelerate technology transfer, promote both foreign and domestic investment, and strengthen human capital development.

Mr. Sidi also noted that the project will enhance Nigeria’s capacity in research, vehicle design, innovation, and skills development, ensuring that local talent plays a central role in the emerging electric mobility ecosystem.

Industry analysts view the MoU as a strategic signal of Nigeria’s readiness to lead Africa’s transition to electric mobility. Beyond vehicle production, the development of nationwide charging infrastructure is expected to boost consumer confidence, encourage EV adoption, and support broader climate and sustainability goals.

By leveraging international partnerships while prioritising local value addition, Nigeria is steadily building a sustainable automotive ecosystem that supports green energy adoption, industrial growth, and long-term economic diversification.

With this agreement, Nigeria positions itself not just as a consumer of electric vehicles, but as a manufacturing and innovation hub for Africa’s next-generation automotive industry.

Source: National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), via official X (formerly Twitter) handle @NADDCouncil.
Google News Description (Snippet):
Nigeria has signed a landmark MoU with South Korea’s AEDC to establish Africa’s first electric vehicle manufacturing nation, targeting 300,000 EVs annually and 10,000 jobs, according to NADDC.

Nigeria signs MoU with South Korea’s AEDC to establish Africa’s first electric vehicle manufacturing hub, aligned with the Energy Transition Plan and NAIDP, NADDC confirms via X.