Nigerian Entrepreneur Builds Sub-Saharan Africa’s First Locally Made Electric Bus

Meet Nigerian green tech innovator Mustapha Abubakar Gajibo.

At 31, Gajibo is making history as the pioneer behind Sub-Saharan Africa’s first fully locally designed and built electric vehicle. Through his startup, Phoenix Renewables Limited, Gajibo has launched a solar-powered electric minibus that is transforming sustainable transportation across Nigeria – and drawing global attention.

Gajibo has emerged as a leading clean-tech innovator. His 12-seater electric bus can travel up to 212 kilometers (132 miles) on a single charge, reach speeds of 110 km/h (68 mph), and is equipped with air conditioning and voice-command technology.

Remarkably, 65 percent of its components are sourced locally, a key factor in keeping production costs low.

The buses are already in operation in Maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria, where a recent company-funded pilot transported over 35,000 passengers in one month—a testament to their reliability and public demand.

Gajibo didn’t start from scratch. He began by converting gasoline-powered vehicles to electric before transitioning to designing and manufacturing EVs entirely in-house.

Phoenix Renewables electric minibuses can cover a distance of 212 kilometers on a single charge. Image credit: Phoenix Renewables Limited

This step-by-step innovation has positioned Phoenix Renewables as a trailblazer in Africa’s nascent electric mobility sector.

“Our products are designed to be affordable,” Gajibo says. “The only way to achieve that is by fully designing and building these vehicles locally.”

His vision is gaining traction beyond civilian transport. The Nigerian government has expressed interest in partnering with Phoenix Renewables to develop electric patrol vehicles for the police and armed forces – marking a major endorsement for homegrown technology.

With ambitions that stretch far beyond Nigeria, Gajibo aims to compete with global EV giants like Tesla. “We want our vehicles on the streets of New York, London, Munich, and other major cities worldwide,” he says.

As Africa accelerates toward a sustainable future, Mustapha Abubakar Gajibo is proving that innovation knows no borders – and that the next wave of green mobility may come from the heart of Nigeria.