NAJA auto summit set for July 30, spotlight on Nigeria’s EV, CNG future

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s automotive, energy and transportation sectors are set to converge in Lagos on July 30, 2026, for the 3rd Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) Auto Summit, where discussions will focus on accelerating the country’s transition to cleaner, more affordable and sustainable mobility solutions.

The summit, scheduled to hold at the Radisson Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, is themed: “Nigeria’s Clean Mobility Future: The EV and CNG Journey Under the Bola Tinubu Administration.”

According to the summit’s organising committee, the event will bring together policymakers, regulators, vehicle manufacturers, energy providers, transport operators, financial institutions and industry experts to evaluate progress made in the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles, as well as address challenges hindering wider acceptance.

Speaking ahead of the event, NAJA Chairman, Theodore Opara, said the summit aims to generate practical solutions that will help reduce transportation costs, enhance energy security and stimulate economic growth through cleaner mobility initiatives.

He noted that Nigeria’s vast natural gas reserves position the country to leverage CNG as a viable alternative fuel while building a pathway towards a cleaner transportation future.

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“Nigeria possesses one of Africa’s largest gas reserves. Expanding CNG infrastructure can provide a practical bridge towards a cleaner mobility future while supporting energy security and reducing pressure on foreign exchange used for fuel imports,” Opara said.

The summit is expected to feature high-profile speakers, including Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG and EV), Barrister Ismael Ahmed; Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Joseph Osanipin; and Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, alongside other key stakeholders from the public and private sectors.

Participants will deliberate on policy implementation, infrastructure expansion, financing frameworks, safety standards, local vehicle assembly, investment opportunities and consumer adoption strategies required to deepen Nigeria’s clean-energy transportation agenda.

The event comes at a time when government support for alternative fuels has increased following the removal of fuel subsidies and the rollout of initiatives under the Presidential CNG Initiative, which have pushed EV and CNG mobility to the forefront of national economic and environmental discussions.

Chairman of the Summit Planning Committee, Rasheed Bisiriyu, said participants would examine case studies from emerging EV and CNG projects while exploring solutions to challenges such as high vehicle acquisition costs, inadequate infrastructure and limited technical expertise.

According to him, the successful development of a robust EV and CNG ecosystem has the potential to significantly lower logistics and transportation costs, improve mobility and reduce the country’s dependence on imported fuel.

With public interest in alternative-energy vehicles growing and government-backed initiatives gaining momentum, the 3rd NAJA Auto Summit is expected to provide a strategic platform for shaping policies and partnerships that will drive Nigeria’s clean mobility transition in the years ahead.