The Electric Paradox: Navigating Potential and Paralysis in Nigeria's E-Mobility Transition

A. Y. Sada

Abstract


This paper analyzes the viability and strategic imperatives of electric vehicle (EV) adoption in Nigeria, a major hydrocarbon-exporting nation contending with significant energy infrastructure deficits and severe urban pollution. The global transition towards e-mobility presents a fundamental paradox for Nigeria, whose economy is deeply intertwined with the fossil fuels that electrification seeks to displace. Through a critical review of contemporary research and a bibliometric analysis of the African e-mobility academic landscape, this study deconstructs the systemic impediments to Nigeria's transition, which are categorized as socio-economic, infrastructural, and governmental. The findings indicate that these barriers collectively render widespread EV adoption untenable under current conditions. A bibliometric analysis reveals Nigeria's peripheral role in the continental e-mobility discourse, signifying a critical knowledge and policy gap. Conversely, the analysis identifies a clear, data-driven trajectory for progress by aligning with the continent's emerging research frontiers. Three strategic pathways are proposed to catalyze a pragmatic transition: (1) prioritizing the electrification of the high-impact two and three-wheeled commercial vehicle segment (paratransit); (2) developing decentralized charging infrastructure powered by Nigeria's abundant solar resources to bypass national grid limitations; and (3) establishing a circular economy model for the EV battery value chain to foster industrial development and mitigate environmental risks. The paper concludes that the primary determinant for Nigeria's e-mobility success is not technological feasibility but the implementation of a decisive, integrated, and phased policy framework. Without such a framework, Nigeria risks becoming a passive recipient of foreign EV technology and a disposal site for used internal combustion engine vehicles, rather than an active architect of a sustainable and economically diversified transport system.


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