Figures cited by The Guardian Nigeria indicate a monumental shift in Nigeria’s transport sector, with electric vehicle (EV) adoption growing by 400% over the last five years. Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, revealed these statistics, linking the surge to the high cost of petroleum and new green energy incentives.
The state government is reportedly planning to expand the network of charging stations across the Lagos metropolis to support this transition. This move aligns with Nigeria’s broader commitment to reducing carbon emissions and diversifying the nation’s energy consumption patterns in urban centers.
Punch Newspaper validated the trend, reporting that ‘Nigerians are increasingly pivoting to alternative energy’ as fuel prices remain volatile. BusinessDay also noted that ‘growing sports and entertainment events are shaping youth’ to embrace modern, sustainable lifestyles including EV technology.
Echotitbits take: A 400% increase sounds impressive, but it starts from a very low base. For EVs to become mainstream, the government must fix the underlying electricity crisis; otherwise, these cars will just be expensive driveway ornaments during power outages.
Source: The Guardian — https://guardian.ng/technology/electric-vehicles-nigerian-economy-and-business-opportunities/
The Guardian January 3, 2026
Photo Credit: The Guardian
