“How Spiro is creating jobs, making mobility affordable in Nigeria” — Director

As Nigeria continues to confront the twin challenges of unemployment and rising transportation costs, electric mobility company Spiro says its growing operations in the country are helping to create jobs, reduce mobility expenses for riders and contribute to local economic development.

Spiro commenced operations in Nigeria in 2024 after months of groundwork aimed at understanding the country’s unique market realities, including power supply challenges and infrastructure gaps.

SolaceBase reports that the company’s expansion comes at a time when Nigeria’s economy continues to face pressure from high inflation and limited income opportunities.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, while overall unemployment and youth unemployment rates have shown slight improvements in recent quarters, inflation remains elevated, constraining household spending and intensifying the need for sustainable income sources.

It is within this context that job-creating investments and affordable mobility solutions are gaining increased relevance.

According to the company’s Director of West Africa, Rahul Gaur, in an interview with select journalists, the decision to enter Nigeria market was driven by the country’s size, population and strategic importance to any business seeking long-term relevance on the African continent.

“Any industry that wants to succeed in Africa has to be in Nigeria,” Gaur said, noting that although concerns about electricity supply existed, the opportunities outweighed the risks.

He explained that Spiro deliberately delayed its entry to study the market and develop solutions tailored to local conditions before launching.

Since its entry, the company has steadily expanded its workforce, employing 570 people in Nigeria, with 99 per cent of the staff drawn from the local labour market.

Gaur said Nigerians currently manage and lead operations across departments and levels, adding that employment figures are expected to rise as the company expands into more states and scales up production in the coming years.

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Beyond direct employment, Spiro’s business model has also created income opportunities for thousands of commercial motorcycle riders who rely on daily earnings to support themselves and their families.

Gaur explained that the company’s electric bikes are designed to offer a more affordable and dependable alternative to petrol-powered motorcycles, which dominate Nigeria’s transport sector.

According to him, riders who switch from petrol to electric bikes save an estimated 25 to 30 per cent over the six-year lifespan of a motorcycle.

He attributed the savings to lower energy costs and reduced maintenance requirements, explaining that electric bikes have fewer moving parts and therefore require less frequent repairs.

“When you look at the total cost of ownership, you consider the cost of the bike, the operational cost of fuel versus energy, and the maintenance cost. When you put these together, the difference becomes clear over time,” Gaur said.

He added that Spiro deliberately priced its bikes competitively against petrol-powered motorcycles rather than other electric alternatives, noting that affordability remains critical in a market where petrol bikes are still the dominant choice.

Despite the competitive pricing, Gaur said the bikes were built to withstand Nigeria’s road conditions, carrying loads of up to 260 kilograms and featuring sturdy suspension systems suited to rough terrain.

A major component of Spiro’s operations in Nigeria is its battery swapping technology, which the company says eliminates the long waiting times associated with charging electric vehicles.

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Instead of charging batteries for up to 45 minutes, riders can exchange discharged batteries for fully charged ones in about two minutes at designated swap stations.

“The process is just like going to a fuel station,” Gaur explained. “You drop a discharged battery, take a charged one, pay only for the energy you have used, and continue your journey.”

He said the system relies on digital scanning and data analytics to measure energy consumption accurately, ensuring transparency in billing.

Spiro’s battery swapping network currently includes more than 1,500 swap stations across eight African countries, building on operational experience gained in Togo and Benin, where the company began testing the model four years ago.

In Nigeria, the company said it carefully selects swap station locations based on the availability of relatively stable electricity supply, while also deploying alternative energy solutions to address power shortages.

Gaur disclosed that Spiro uses second-life batteries imported from other West African countries as energy storage during outages, allowing stations to continue operating even when grid power is unavailable.

In addition, the company is integrating solar energy into its operations, either by directly powering swap stations or charging energy storage systems that can be used when grid supply is disrupted.

Gaur said the energy strategy would continue to evolve in response to Nigeria’s power challenges.

While cost savings remain the primary motivation for riders, Spiro said environmental sustainability is a key part of its long-term vision.

Gaur revealed that the company has helped save an estimated 63,000 tonnes of carbon emissions over the past four years, based on data collected from its connected electric bikes.

“Our bikes are equipped with trackers and IoT systems that allow us to analyse riding behaviour and measure distance covered,” he said.

“Collectively, our bikes have travelled about 1.1 billion kilometres, and this data helps us calculate the carbon emissions saved.”

He acknowledged that many riders are more focused on immediate economic benefits than environmental considerations but said the company continues to educate users on the importance of cleaner energy for future generations.

Gaur added that Spiro does not view other electric mobility firms as its main rivals. Instead, he said the company is competing with all motorcycles sold in the country, regardless of whether they are fuel-powered or electric.

“Our goal is to provide a transport solution that improves livelihoods, supports economic growth and contributes to a cleaner environment,” he said.

As Spiro expands its footprint across Nigeria, the company says its focus remains on localisation, job creation and building an electric mobility ecosystem that responds to the country’s economic and infrastructural realities.