Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has flagged off the Stallion Vehicle Assembly Plant and Automotive Infrastructure in Owo, Nkanu East Local Government Area, emphasising the state’s transition from a consumer-based to a production-driven economy.

The groundbreaking ceremony, held on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, marks a step toward positioning Enugu as a leader in Nigeria’s automotive industry and aligns with the state’s broader economic vision of growing its GDP from $4.4 billion to $30 billion within eight years.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, Governor Peter Mbah performed the symbolic foundation-laying ceremony alongside Mahesh Vaswani, Group Managing Director of Stallion Group, and key state officials, including Dr. Obi Ozor (Commissioner for Transport), Pharm. Chika Ugwuoke (Labour and Employment), Dr. Malachy Agbo (Poverty Eradication), Mrs. Ngozi Enih (Children, Gender, and Social Development), and Hon. Patrick Ubru (Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation). The plant, a partnership with Stallion MG Automobiles Ltd., will initially assemble 2,000 hybrid sedans, with plans to expand into bus production in the near future.

“This groundbreaking marks the beginning of a new industrial era,” Governor Mbah stated, highlighting the project’s role in fostering industrialisation, innovation, and inclusive economic transformation. He emphasised that the plant will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, including roles for engineers, service technicians, administrative staff, logistics providers, and retail partners. The initiative also supports the state’s youth empowerment taxi scheme, offering dignified employment opportunities, and aligns with Enugu’s climate policy to reduce carbon emissions through clean energy vehicles.

Enugu EV plant to serve as a training ground

The Stallion Vehicle Assembly Plant is designed to serve as more than a manufacturing facility. Governor Mbah described it as a training ground for the next generation of automotive engineers, with structured frameworks for technology transfer and skills development. “Beyond job creation, we see this plant as a catalyst for positioning Enugu as the automotive hub of the South East, Nigeria, and the wider West African region,” he said, encouraging young people to seize opportunities to acquire globally competitive skills in the automotive sector.

The project aligns with Enugu’s renewable energy goals and green innovation strategy, as well as President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which promotes local manufacturing to reduce import dependency. Mahesh Vaswani praised Governor Mbah’s vision, stating, “This collaboration will enhance transport infrastructure, create jobs, and place Enugu on the map in Africa’s auto industry.” He underscored the project’s alignment with sustainable development, noting its focus on hybrid vehicles that support cleaner transportation.

Commissioners present at the event commended the initiative’s alignment with the state’s climate action plan, which prioritises reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality. They urged the Owo community to protect the infrastructure and collaborate with Stallion Group to ensure the project’s success. Hon. Okechukwu Edeh, Chairman of Nkanu East Local Government Area, lauded Governor Mbah’s reforms over the past two years, which have attracted significant local and foreign investment. “The council will continue to provide an enabling environment for investors,” Edeh said, calling for more opportunities in the region.

This initiative follows other similar projects under Mbah’s administration, including the Nortra Tractor Assembly Plant launched in October 2024, which aims to produce 1,000 tractors, with 800 assembled locally, and the commissioning of the New-Watson Doors Industry by a Chinese firm. These efforts reflect Mbah’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for investors, as evidenced by his administration’s Ease of Doing Business reforms and infrastructure developments, such as the New Enugu City project and the construction of 260 Smart Green Schools and Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres across the state.