EV operators bet on data, infrastructure to unlock Nigeria’s e-mobility future

Electric vehicle (EV) operators have identified data analytics, charging infrastructure and integrated energy systems as critical enablers of Nigeria’s e-mobility future, as the country seeks to build ecosystems needed to support large-scale adoption and attract investment into the sector.

Speaking at the Arthurite Integrated summit, titled, ‘One with AI: Powering Mobility and EV Ecosystem with AWS,’ stakeholders noted that sustainable EV adoption requires charging stations, power generation, battery management, financing, and technician training, powered by artificial intelligence and cloud technology.

Alexander Lenk, head of Catena-X, Amazon Web Services (AWS), in his keynote address, titled, ‘The Cloud-First Electric Future: What AWS is Building for Mobility,’ said that the future of mobility will be driven by the combination of cloud computing, AI, and electrification to enable automakers and mobility companies develop smarter, connected, and autonomous transportation systems faster and more efficiently.

Lenk said the automotive industry is shifting from hardware-centric vehicles to software-defined vehicles.

He also noted that data-driven intelligence will be central to scaling Nigeria’s EV ecosystem, attracting financing, optimising charging infrastructure, managing batteries, forecasting demand and supporting long-term industry growth.

Joseph Osanipin, director general, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), in his keynote address titled, ‘From Policy to Production, Building Nigeria’s Homegrown Vehicle Industries,’ said that the automotive industry has evolved, and the federal government is reimagining the country’s value chain to build cleaner, smarter, and highly connected transport networks.

Osanipin, who was represented by Olume Sevadude, head of IT, NADDC, noted that to catalyze this transition, the federal government has instituted a zero percent duty on semi-knockdown and completely knockdown electric vehicles, alongside perennial status holidays for EV components manufacturers.

“We’re intentionally shifting the economy away from internal combustion reliance, and directing this towards an indigenous electrification system,” he said.

Osanipin added that the NADDC is partnering with global technology leaders like AWS, to integrate big data analytics seamlessly into Nigeria’s automotive ecosystem.

“A homegrown EV industry must be underpinned by taking advantage of machine learning models that predict everything from grid load optimisation to real-time traffic dynamics.

“By employing data analytics to understand urban mobility patterns and establishing rigorous simulation life cycles for battery performance, we are accurately modeling the unique demands of the Nigerian environment,” he said.

Osanipin added that through cloud infrastructure, the NADDC is empowering local engineers to design static and dynamic models that will define the future of EV in Nigeria.

The summit convened industry stakeholders including pioneers, policymakers, financiers, and tech executives leading the charge in clean energy and electric vehicles across West Africa.

It also featured two panel sessions that examined the key barriers, opportunities, and practical requirements for scaling electric mobility in Nigeria, with speakers stressing that EV adoption depends on more than just vehicles, but building digital platforms, energy infrastructure, battery networks, software systems, data services, and financing solutions.

According to panelists, financiers are more likely to back EV projects when supported by credible operational data, which helps assess risks and investment viability.

They also raised concerns over the growing entry of poorly regulated used EVs and low-quality batteries into the market, warning that accidents or battery failures could erode public trust in the technology.

Ahmad Damcida, principal and founder, Foltï Technologies Limited, highlighted lack of proper certification, and weak enforcement of standards by the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) and NADDC as a huge gap in accelerating EV transition in Nigeria.

Damcida said failing to address these gaps could pose significant safety risks, adding that a local certification centre would play a critical role in ensuring quality control and consumer protection.

“Some people go to China and bring in second life EVs. They’ve changed some of the battery components, those batteries that are weak have been changed and are now in Nigeria,” he said.

Operators further emphasised that while EV hardware is becoming increasingly commoditised, the real competitive advantage lies in the data layer, understanding customer behaviour, vehicle usage patterns, charging habits and operational risks, and using AI to convert that information into actionable insights that improve revenue, efficiency and customer experience.