FG begins rollout of 100 electric buses for civil servants, targets local EV production

The Federal Government has commissioned the first batch of electric mass transit buses under a 100-bus programme for federal civil servants, with officials linking the rollout to broader plans to build local electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing capacity in Nigeria, according to a report.

The buses were commissioned on Wednesday at Eagle Square, Abuja, with the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, describing the initiative as a major milestone in efforts to improve civil servants’ welfare. The first phase involves 37 of the 100 electric buses approved under the Renewed Hope Mass Transit Programme, acquired through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund.

Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Owan Enoh, said the project extended beyond transportation, tying it to the government’s industrialisation agenda and ambitions to expand Nigeria’s automotive manufacturing capacity.

“Nigeria must produce more. Nigeria must manufacture more. Nigeria must create more jobs at home,” Enoh said.

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Nigeria seeks to close gaps in electric bus manufacturing

Enoh said the government’s vision was for more vehicles and mobility solutions used in Nigeria to be produced locally, with the long-term objective of positioning the country as an automotive manufacturing hub for Africa. He said this would require Nigeria to develop capacity beyond vehicle assembly, including in battery technology, charging infrastructure, power electronics and modern vehicle systems.

He commended the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and other stakeholders for their role in the project, and urged local manufacturers to invest in factories, deepen local content and produce globally competitive products.

Enoh said each of the 100 electric buses can accommodate up to 200 passengers and travel a minimum of 200 kilometres on a full charge. Operations will begin with a pilot phase on selected routes before a full rollout, with buses also to be deployed to Federal Secretariats across the states.

Walson-Jack said a Special Purpose Vehicle had been established to manage and maintain the buses, and urged authorities to ensure transparent routes, safety measures and effective monitoring to sustain the programme.

The commissioning came less than 24 hours before the end of Walson-Jack’s tenure as Head of the Civil Service, which she described as her “parting gift” to federal workers.