Nigeria’s indigenous automobile manufacturer, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) Limited, is set to establish a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) assembly and conversion plant in Bayelsa State, a move expected to transform the state’s transport sector and boost its industrial growth.
The company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, disclosed the plan during a courtesy visit to Governor Douye Diri at the Government House, Yenagoa, on Monday. Chukwuma said the investment aligns with global trends toward cleaner energy and will create over 1,000 direct jobs and thousands of indirect opportunities in assembly, logistics, maintenance, and local manufacturing.
Speaking further, IVM’s Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Kamsi Ejiofor, said the plant would produce modern CNG-powered vehicles, including buses and ambulances, aimed at improving public transportation, reducing fuel costs, and promoting a greener environment.
“The usage of CNG vehicles will save cost from fuel and maintenance, improve health, ensure cleaner air, and make Bayelsa a clean energy and tech pioneer in Nigeria,” he said.
Governor Diri, in his response, commended Innoson’s decision to bring the project to Bayelsa, describing it as a major step toward diversifying the state’s economy from consumption to production. He noted that the initiative aligns with the state government’s 2026 budget projection to procure CNG-powered vehicles, adding that his administration is committed to providing the right infrastructure and security to support such industrial investments.
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“This investment is timely and strategic,” Diri stated. “We are ready to partner with Innoson to make Bayelsa a hub for clean energy and automotive innovation. Our goal is to create an enabling environment where industries can thrive.”
To ensure smooth implementation, Governor Diri announced a committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, with key commissioners and advisers drawn from the ministries of Trade and Investment, Finance, Information, Transport, and Justice.
The project marks one of the most significant private-sector partnerships in Bayelsa’s recent drive toward industrialization and renewable energy advancement.