A high-level Indian business delegation is actively exploring strategic opportunities within Nigeria’s energy landscape, aiming to capitalize on the West African nation’s renewed push for gas utilization, industrialization, and foreign direct investment.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties at NOG Energy Week
The growing commercial interest was the focal point of a Business-to-Business (B2B) Networking Event held on the sidelines of the NOG Energy Week 2026. Co-organized by the High Commission of India in Abuja and the World Trade Centre (WTC) Abuja, the gathering brought together key industry captains, international investors, and energy policymakers from both nations to foster deep bilateral collaborations.
Addressing the delegates, John Awajumogu, the Special Advisor to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Industry, Trade, and Investment, emphasized the federal government’s commitment to fostering a business-friendly climate. He outlined the administration’s sweeping economic reforms designed to transition Nigeria away from its heavy reliance on crude oil, stimulate capital inflows, and diversify revenue streams.
According to Awajumogu, the presidency remains focused on eliminating systemic bottlenecks that hinder business growth. The administration’s core objectives include reducing manufacturing costs, enhancing local production capacity, and guaranteeing a transparent, stable regulatory framework to protect foreign assets and investments.
Driving the CNG Transition in Nigeria
Among the prominent businesses leading the charge is the Simba Group, a company with nearly four decades of operational history in Nigeria. Chief Vinay Grover, representing the group, highlighted their pivotal role in Nigeria’s transition toward Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as an alternative fuel source.
Grover revealed that while Simba Group has historically been a major supplier of two-wheeled and three-wheeled petrol-powered vehicles, it has aggressively pivoted toward CNG technology over the past 18 months. Currently, the company operates Nigeria’s largest CNG mobility assembly unit, manufacturing approximately 1,000 units monthly.
“We are ready to scale up production even further as more CNG fueling stations become operational across the country,” Grover stated, adding that Simba Group’s diverse product portfolio serves over 30 million Nigerians daily, helping to alleviate transportation challenges and generate local employment.
Expanding Industrial and Gas Solutions
In addition to clean mobility, industrial manufacturing giants are looking to deepen their footprint in the region. Aman Rahul Kirloskar, Managing Director of Kirloskar Pneumatic Company Limited, expressed his organization’s keen interest in forging new partnerships in Nigeria and the wider African continent.
As a prominent manufacturer of heavy industrial equipment, Kirloskar Pneumatic specializes in engineering solutions for the energy, gas, refrigeration, and cooling sectors. Kirloskar noted that the company’s participation in the Abuja event serves as a strategic launchpad to introduce advanced technology that can support Nigeria’s gas-to-power and industrialization agenda.