NAISU 2026: SON Calls for Stronger Standards to Power Safe, Investment-Ready EV and CNG Ecosystem

The Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, has said Nigeria’s transition to Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered transportation can only succeed if supported by robust standards, certification and regulatory compliance.

Okeke, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Research and Statistics, Engr. Olalekan Omoniyi, made this known while presenting a position paper at the 3rd Nigeria Auto Industry Summit organised by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) in Lagos on Thursday.

Speaking on the topic, “The Role of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria in Building a Safe, Sustainable and Investment-Ready Electric Vehicle (EV) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Ecosystem,” the SON Director-General said standards remain the foundation for safety, consumer confidence, quality assurance and investment in Nigeria’s clean mobility future.

He said while Nigeria’s shift to cleaner transportation offers significant opportunities for economic growth, energy diversification and environmental sustainability, the country must establish a strong quality assurance and conformity assessment framework to prevent the influx of unsafe vehicles and substandard components.

According to him, SON has already developed more than 80 Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) for CNG road vehicles and related equipment, alongside a suite of 87 standards and the National Nigerian Guideline (NNG 1214:2024) governing CNG vehicle conversions.

Okeke said the organisation is also expanding its standards framework to cover electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, traction batteries, charging connectors, battery-swapping systems and other critical EV technologies.

He noted that under the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act No. 14 of 2015, SON is empowered to develop and enforce standards, certify products, inspect facilities, operate conformity assessment programmes and remove substandard products from the Nigerian market.

The SON boss explained that the organisation is implementing key conformity assessment programmes, including SONCAP, MANCAP and the newly introduced Vehicle Conformity Assessment Scheme and Programme (VehCAS/VehCAP), being developed in collaboration with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).

According to him, the vehicle conformity programme will ensure that imported and locally assembled vehicles meet safety, quality and environmental requirements before entering the Nigerian market.

He warned that recent incidents involving uncertified CNG cylinders and poorly installed conversion kits highlight the dangers of ignoring standards, stressing that such cases reinforce the need for stronger certification and enforcement rather than discouraging the adoption of cleaner transport technologies.

Okeke added that SON is working closely with NADDC, the Electric Mobility Promoters and Assemblers Association of Nigeria (EMPAN), the Nigeria Energy Support Programme (NESP III) and other stakeholders to develop internationally aligned standards for electric mobility.

He said standards would not only protect consumers but also encourage local manufacturing, facilitate exports under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), improve investor confidence and support financing for clean mobility projects.

The Director-General identified challenges facing the sector, including the proliferation of uncertified conversion centres, inadequate testing infrastructure, evolving EV technologies, limited public awareness and the need for stronger collaboration among regulatory agencies.

He called for mandatory certification of EV and CNG products and facilities, licensing of all conversion centres, greater investment in testing laboratories, stronger inter-agency coordination and sustained public awareness campaigns.

“Nigeria’s clean mobility future will be built on public trust. That trust is created through standards, verified by certification and protected by enforcement,” he said, reaffirming SON’s commitment to supporting a safe, sustainable and globally competitive clean mobility ecosystem.