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Nigerian auto magnate Innocent Chukwuma, founder of Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing, has announced plans to build a compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle assembly plant in Bayelsa State, calling it a new chapter for local manufacturing and cleaner transportation in the country.
Chukwuma, who visited Gov. Douye Diri at Government House in Yenagoa, said the company’s new facility would focus on producing buses, ambulances and utility vehicles powered by CNG — an alternative to petrol that could reduce costs for operators and cut emissions.
According to Innoson spokesperson Kamsi Ejiofor, the project will create about 1,000 direct jobs and thousands more indirectly through logistics and parts supply chains. “This plant is part of our commitment to expand local production and support the transition to cleaner, cheaper energy for transport,” Ejiofor said.
Governor Diri, who has pushed for industrial investment in Bayelsa, welcomed the announcement. He said the state will support the project through infrastructure and policy incentives, noting that the 2026 budget already includes provisions for the procurement of CNG vehicles.
“This comes at a crucial time,” Diri said. “We want Bayelsa to be a center of production, not just consumption. Innoson’s decision to invest here is a vote of confidence.”
Chukwuma, a self-made businessman who grew Innoson from a small trading venture into Nigeria’s largest indigenous automaker, said the Bayelsa plant reflects his belief in building industries where they’re needed most, not just in major commercial hubs.
“Our mission has always been to create jobs and build industries that serve Nigerians,” he told reporters. “This is a step toward that goal.”
The state government has formed an implementation committee to fast-track the project, with discussions underway on power, security and road support to make the plant operational as quickly as possible.
