NEWS
Nigeria Targets Leadership in Africa’s Clean Mobility Revolution as Innoson Moves to Commission Massive CNG and Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Plant, Eyes 2,000 New Jobs in 2026
…as INNOSON New 20,000 Vehicle Per Year CNG Factory ”Among World’s Largest”
Nigeria is intensifying its drive toward industrial expansion and clean energy transportation as Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) prepares to commission a large-scale factory dedicated exclusively to the production of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks and electric vehicles, a development poised to reshape the country’s position in Africa’s automotive landscape.
The Executive Chairman of Innoson Group, Mr. Innocent Chukwuma, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to indigenous manufacturing, industrial growth, and youth empowerment, describing the new project as a major milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward technological self-reliance.
Speaking on the progress of the initiative, Chukwuma disclosed that Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing has grown into one of the largest employers of labour on the African continent, with its operations sustaining thousands of families across Nigeria and beyond.
He revealed that the company plans to recruit about 2,000 additional workers in 2026 alone, following the establishment of the new factory dedicated to CNG trucks and electric vehicles, marking one of the most ambitious employment expansion programmes in Nigeria’s private manufacturing sector.
Chukwuma explained that the CNG Vehicle Manufacturing Plant is designed to rank among the biggest of its kind globally, boasting an installed capacity to produce 3,000 units annually across six different categories of CNG-powered vehicles, translating to an estimated total output of about 20,000 vehicles per year.
According to him, the facility will be equipped with cutting-edge, state-of-the-art machinery and advanced production lines, with construction already at an advanced stage and completion expected within the next few months.
He further noted that the factory is scheduled to commence operations shortly after completion, adding that it will be complemented by a robust technical training scheme aimed at grooming young Nigerians with practical, industry-relevant skills.
Under the programme, trainees will receive hands-on industrial training and, upon completion, will either be absorbed into Innoson’s workforce or certified to seek employment across other manufacturing firms, thereby expanding Nigeria’s pool of skilled industrial labour.
Chukwuma emphasized that Innoson currently supports thousands of families through direct and indirect employment and intends to significantly scale up its workforce as production capacity expands.
The initiative, he said, aligns with his long-held vision of driving industrial growth through Nigerian talent while fostering inclusive economic development.
Beyond its economic benefits, the project is also positioned as a social intervention strategy, targeting youth engagement and productivity as a means of addressing unemployment and its associated challenges.
Chukwuma stressed that sustainable skills development and large-scale job creation remain essential tools in tackling insecurity and strengthening Nigeria’s industrial base.
As African countries increasingly embrace gas-powered and electric vehicles as cleaner alternatives to petrol- and diesel-powered transport, Innoson’s expansion places Nigeria on a promising path to becoming a continental hub for next-generation vehicle manufacturing.
Industry observers note that the project could have far-reaching implications for regional supply chains, technology transfer, employment generation, and the long-term quest for industrial self-reliance across Africa.