The Couple Behind SmallChopsng and AutoGirl Are Now Building Nigeria's EV Charging Network

A Lagos couple already known for two separate businesses has built a third, together. Uche Ukonu, who founded food-delivery brand SmallChopsng, and Chinazom "ChiChi" Arinze, who spent eight years building mobility platform AutoGirl, have launched LotGrids, an electric vehicle charging network aimed at one of the more practical problems slowing EV adoption in Nigeria: not having enough places to charge, or not knowing which ones are actually working.

What LotGrids Does

LotGrids connects charger owners, investors, location partners and fleet operators into a single network, Techpoint Africa reports. The idea grew directly out of a problem Arinze ran into scaling AutoGirl's electric vehicle rentals. "If I don't have a platform that can reliably tell exactly when a charger is available and when it's not, that's a big problem for my business," she said.

The platform registered in August 2026, though Techpoint notes the groundwork began more than a year before that. It currently operates in Lagos, is onboarding Abuja and Port Harcourt, has a presence in Kano and Enugu, and is exploring expansion into Senegal, Nairobi and Ghana.

The LotGrids Logo. Source: @lotgrids on Instagram.

The Scale So Far

LotGrids has more than 50 chargers on its platform and over 10 locations secured, with three to five new locations being signed weekly, according to Techpoint. Its own fleet runs to roughly 200 vehicles, with around 800 more in the pipeline. Ukonu says the 30-plus chargers he has personally installed already generate about ₦10 million across the network.

How the Business Works

LotGrids charges roughly ₦500 per kilowatt-hour, with the remaining revenue after power costs split between charger investors and location owners, plus a management fee of about 5 percent per charging transaction, Techpoint reports. The model is deliberately capital-light: investors fund the physical chargers, and LotGrids supplies the platform, expertise and fleet demand that make those chargers worth installing in the first place.

Who Ukonu and Arinze Are

Ukonu built SmallChopsng into a food-delivery business that at its peak served around 20,000 direct customers, later shifting to a B2B model supplying frozen spring rolls and samosas to corporate clients, Techpoint notes. Arinze's AutoGirl has grown to more than 40,000 customers, and its Movement feature lets vehicle owners earn money by listing their cars, a model that expanded naturally into electric vehicle rentals, the direct route into the charging problem LotGrids now exists to solve.

Uche Ukonu and Chinazom Arinze. Source: @chichi_arinze on Instagram

Why This Matters for Nigeria's EV Push

Charging infrastructure has been one of the persistent gaps in Nigeria's electric vehicle conversation, sitting behind vehicle cost and import policy as a quieter but equally real barrier to adoption. A platform built by founders who have already scaled consumer-facing logistics businesses in Lagos, rather than one built from a purely infrastructure or utility background, brings a different kind of operating experience to a problem that has mostly been discussed in policy terms.

PINCHED has reached out to LotGrids for further comment on its expansion plans and will update this piece if a response is received.

This article is a news report, and PINCHED has not been briefed directly by LotGrids beyond the sourcing above.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is LotGrids?

LotGrids is a Nigerian electric vehicle charging network that connects charger owners, investors, location partners and fleet operators into one platform, founded by Uche Ukonu and Chinazom Arinze.

Who Founded LotGrids?

LotGrids was founded by Uche Ukonu, known for SmallChopsng, and his wife Chinazom "ChiChi" Arinze, known for the mobility platform AutoGirl.

Where Does LotGrids Operate?

LotGrids currently operates in Lagos, is onboarding Abuja and Port Harcourt, and has a presence in Kano and Enugu, with plans to explore Senegal, Nairobi and Ghana.

How Does LotGrids Make Money?

LotGrids charges around ₦500 per kilowatt-hour, splitting revenue between charger investors and location owners after power costs, plus a roughly 5 percent management fee per transaction.

When Did LotGrids Launch?

LotGrids registered in August 2026, following more than a year of groundwork by its founders.