Nigeria Mining Week 2026 – Sponsor Q&A
Maro Owholo, National Sales Manager (LHCV)
Maro Owholo, National Sales Manager (LHCV)
1. Tell us about Mikano Motors’ current activities in Nigeria, particularly around fleet, commercial vehicle and logistics solutions for industries such as mining?
People know Mikano as Nigeria’s leader in power generation with over 30 years’ experience, but we’ve brought that same heavy-duty discipline into automotive and heavy machinery. For mining and logistics, we offer a complete fleet ecosystem: Lovol heavy equipment (excavators, loaders) for site extraction, ZNA and GWM (Pickup/Tank) for rugged site operations, Maxus for fleet utility and logistics, and Changan for executive movement – all backed by nationwide technical support.
2. Mikano Motors has been a sponsor of Nigeria Mining Week before. What motivated this commitment, and how has the event evolved from your perspective?
Without heavy haulage and earthmoving equipment, raw minerals stay in the ground. We sponsor Nigeria Mining Week because mining is central to economic diversification, and reliable equipment is key to unlocking that value. The event has successfully evolved from a policy talk-shop into an active business execution platform where real equipment and investment deals happen.
3. How does Mikano Motors’ attendance align with your broader strategy for supporting Nigeria’s mining sector and building industry partnerships?
Our presence isn’t just about showing off vehicles; it’s about deep industry integration. Mining involves heavy capital cycles and tough terrains. Participating allows us to listen to miners, co-design fleet setups tailored to their site demands, and establish long-term maintenance and parts supply contracts directly with concession holders.
4. What do you see as the most significant opportunities currently driving Nigeria’s mining industry, and how is Mikano Motors positioning its vehicle and mobility solutions to take advantage of them?
The primary opportunities in 2025/2026 are the government’s push for solid mineral processing and increased critical mineral extraction (like lithium and iron ore). We are positioning our Lovol machinery and rugged ZNA/GWM commercial fleets with flexible, structured commercial terms – giving operators high durability and fuel efficiency without overwhelming upfront capital expenditure.
5. From your vantage point, what are the biggest challenges facing mining companies in Nigeria today around transport, logistics and fleet reliability, and how can events like Nigeria Mining Week help address them?
The biggest hurdles miners face are brutal site terrains, severe downtime due to scarce spare parts, and rising operational costs. Events like Mining Week allow us to bridge that gap by connecting miners directly with suppliers who have local inventory and active maintenance support, eliminating costly operational delays.
6. How does Mikano Motors’ local vehicle assembly in Nigeria support the country’s industrialisation and localisation goals, and what role do you see it playing in the mining sector specifically?
Local assembly at our state-of-the-art facility is our biggest differentiator. It creates local technical jobs, reduces reliance on expensive fully-built imports, and allows us to customise vehicles specifically for Nigerian road and site conditions. For miners, local assembly means off-the-shelf spare parts availability and faster fleet delivery.
7. Can you share examples of innovations, whether in vehicle technology, financing or after-sales service, that Mikano Motors is championing to strengthen Nigeria’s mining and industrial ecosystem?
We are driving three major innovations:
- Tech: Smart telematics across our commercial fleets for real-time tracking of fuel, load capacity, and engine health.
- After-Sales: Mobile service units and site-dedicated technicians – leveraging the same 24/7 service model that built our reputation in power solutions.
8. Finally, what message would you like to send to investors, policymakers and communities about Mikano Motors’ vision for supporting Nigeria’s mining future?
- To Investors: Mikano Motors is your total equipment partner – from Lovol earthmovers to site utility pick-ups – ensuring maximum site uptime.
- To Policymakers: Continued support for local assembly will accelerate local industrial capacity and retain value within Nigeria.
- To Communities: We remain committed to sustainable operations, local employment, and developing local technical skills for the future.
