The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has introduced National Occupational Standards (NOS) for the conversion, calibration, and maintenance of gas-powered and electric vehicles in Nigeria, marking a significant step toward the country’s automotive and clean energy transformation.
The initiative, unveiled at a public presentation in Abuja, is aimed at professionalising technical skills, creating jobs, and supporting Nigeria’s shift to alternative fuel vehicles.
Speaking at the event, Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, praised the NADDC’s efforts, describing the move as a practical demonstration of the government’s commitment to technical and vocational education.
“Our history has been characterised by too much talk with little action. Today, we are taking practical steps to build technical capacity for CNG and electric vehicle maintenance,” Enoh stated.
The minister stressed that by standardising training, Nigeria will equip its workforce with globally competitive skills, boosting entrepreneurship and innovation in the automotive industry. He added that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) remains crucial to industrial growth and economic diversification.
As of June 2025, Nigeria’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) adoption had surged to over 100,000 vehicles, with projections targeting one million CNG-powered vehicles by 2027.
NADDC’s Director-General, Joseph Osanipin, explained that the NOS clearly outlines required knowledge and skills for automotive technicians, whether learned in classrooms or on the job.
Key NOS areas include:
Automotive Mechatronics (light vehicles): 18 NOSs, classified into five levels.
Automotive Motorcycles: 20 NOSs, classified into three levels.
Automotive Tricycles: 21 NOSs, classified into three levels.
Agricultural technology (tractors and heavy-duty vehicles): 12 NOSs, classified into three levels.
Osanipin also unveiled the CNG Retrofitting Information Guide, designed to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant installation of CNG systems, reducing environmental risks and cutting petrol and diesel dependency.
The DG stated that NADDC’s push for standardisation is part of a broader vision to position Nigeria as a competitive automotive hub.
“We are not just targeting domestic adoption; we aim to begin exporting made-in-Nigeria vehicles and automotive machines soon,” Osanipin said.
The newly inaugurated Sector Skills Council for the Automotive Industry (SSC) is expected to spearhead skill development and enforce compliance with the NOS.
Industry stakeholders at the event highlighted that these reforms will help reduce unemployment, promote clean energy mobility, and attract private investment into Nigeria’s automotive sector.
With global automotive industries transitioning to cleaner energy sources, Nigeria’s strategic move to standardise CNG and electric vehicle operations could unlock new economic opportunities. Experts predict that standardisation will increase investor confidence, reduce environmental pollution, and create thousands of technical jobs for Nigerian youths.
As Senator Enoh emphasised, “Standardisation is key to building a sustainable automotive industry, driving economic growth, and creating job opportunities for our young people.”