The House of Representatives has called for a transparent regulatory framework governing the importation of electric vehicles, compressed natural gas vehicles and related infrastructure, seeking to link government incentives to measurable investments in local servicing, technical training and refuelling facilities. The proposal followed a motion moved by Lagos lawmaker Ademorin Kuye on the floor of the House on Tuesday. Kuye said the framework would ensure that companies importing clean-energy vehicles into the country have the technical capacity and infrastructure required to support their products, rather than relying solely on import duty concessions and other fiscal incentives.
Nigeria has adopted policies promoting electric vehicles, CNG-powered vehicles, liquefied petroleum gas vehicles and other clean transportation technologies as part of its energy transition and economic diversification agenda. The Federal Government has introduced fiscal incentives, including import duty and tax reliefs, to encourage investment in clean mobility technologies and improve the availability of charging infrastructure, CNG refuelling stations, maintenance centres, spare parts supply chains, technical expertise and after-sales support. According to Kuye, the House is convinced that Nigeria can encourage local investment, technology transfer, employment generation and domestic value addition by linking import incentives to measurable investments in infrastructure and technical capacity.
The House urged the Federal Government to establish a transparent licensing and approval framework for the commercial importation of electric vehicles, CNG vehicles and related clean mobility equipment. It called on the National Automotive Design and Development Council, in collaboration with the Bureau of Public Procurement, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, the Nigeria Customs Service and other relevant agencies, to develop objective criteria for approving importers. Companies seeking approval would be required to establish certified service and maintenance centres in Nigeria, ensure the availability of genuine spare parts and warranty support, and employ and train qualified Nigerian technical personnel.
Under the proposed framework, importers would also be assessed on their investments in electric vehicle charging infrastructure or CNG refuelling facilities, compliance with Nigerian safety, environmental and technical standards, and submission of consumer protection and after-sales service plans. The motion urged the NADDC to maintain a public register of approved importers and infrastructure providers to promote transparency and build consumer confidence. The House emphasised that the approval process should remain open, competitive and non-discriminatory, allowing every company that meets prescribed requirements to obtain approval without undue preference.
The House also called for the alignment of tax incentives, import duty concessions and other fiscal benefits with compliance with the proposed regulatory framework, aiming to encourage sustained investment in local infrastructure. If implemented, the proposal could strengthen consumer protection by requiring importers to provide warranties, genuine spare parts and accessible maintenance services. The motion emphasises ensuring that government incentives for clean mobility translate into lasting investments in infrastructure and skills, rather than merely increasing the volume of imported vehicles.
The proposal comes amid efforts to diversify Nigeria's energy sources and reduce dependence on petrol and diesel in the transport sector. Electric vehicles depend on adequate charging facilities and reliable technical support, while CNG-powered vehicles require accessible refuelling stations, trained technicians and appropriate safety standards. The framework seeks to address these requirements by making local support infrastructure and compliance with established standards central to the approval of commercial vehicle imports.