*Deal worth N25 billion

By Theodore opara

Nigeria’s transition to clean transportation received a major boost on Wednesday as Hybrid Motors Nigeria and DriveMe Mobility unveiled a ₦25 billion partnership to deploy 1,000 brand-new electric vehicles into the country’s ride-hailing sector, with a bold promise to transform commercial drivers from perpetual renters into vehicle owners.

The initiative, one of the largest commercial fleet electrification projects in West Africa, combines Hybrid Motors’ electric vehicle manufacturing and charging infrastructure with DriveMe Mobility’s technology-driven driver financing and capacity-building platform to create sustainable livelihoods while accelerating Nigeria’s shift to environmentally friendly transportation.

According to the partners, the programme adopts a drive-to-own model that enables qualified commercial drivers to own brand-new electric vehicles through structured financing, transparent earnings and intensive professional training.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of DriveMe Mobility, Damilola Odunlade-Akeju, said the initiative goes beyond putting more vehicles on the road.

“This partnership is about more than vehicles on the road. Every driver we deploy is prepared not just to operate a vehicle, but to build a livelihood from it. We are creating sustainable economic opportunity at scale,” he said.

Under the arrangement, Hybrid Motors will manufacture, maintain and power the electric fleet, while DriveMe will oversee driver recruitment, credit assessment, certification and fleet operations using its proprietary technology.

To address one of the biggest obstacles to electric mobility in Nigeria—charging infrastructure—Hybrid Motors said it would establish eight mega charging stations equipped with 96 charging units and 192 charging guns capable of servicing up to 2,300 vehicles daily.

The company said the largely solar-powered charging network would operate independently of the national grid, eliminating concerns over unreliable electricity supply while lowering operating costs for drivers.

Hybrid Motors disclosed that the charging infrastructure forms part of its broader plan to build 110 mega charging stations nationwide over the next five years, providing the backbone for large-scale electric vehicle adoption.

Chief Executive Officer of Hybrid Motors Nigeria, Jubril Arogundade, said the company was building an integrated ecosystem covering vehicle production, charging facilities and after-sales support to ensure long-term sustainability.

“We are not just putting cars on the road—we are building the vehicles, the energy, and the infrastructure that make clean commercial mobility work in Nigeria,” he said.

DriveMe also unveiled two proprietary digital platforms—DriveMeScore, a credit and risk assessment system, and DriveMeCollect, a daily collections and fleet monitoring platform—which it said would improve access to vehicle financing and ensure transparent revenue management for participating drivers.

The company added that every beneficiary would undergo an accredited capacity-building programme designed to strengthen driving skills, professionalism and financial management.

Beyond the initial rollout, both firms said they aimed to expand the partnership to 5,000 electric vehicles within the next three years, positioning the project as a model for sustainable commercial mobility across Africa.