The Federal Government through the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has constituted a Technical Committee for the development of a legal framework for the promotion, adoption, patronage as well as usage of electric vehicles in Nigeria.
Jelani Aliyu, Director General of NADDC, stated this at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with the theme “Shifting to Efficient and Zero-Emission Vehicles in the Global South” held at the United Nations Office Headquarters in Africa, located in Nairobi, Kenya.
A statement from Ahmed Lawan explained that the introduction of a legal framework would further enhance the development of electric mobility in the country.
Aliyu revealed that his agency has developed 100 per cent Solar Powered electric vehicle Charging Stations, located at the Usmanu Dan Fodio, Sokoto, the University of Lagos and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
The three charging stations are aimed at bringing advanced automotive-related technology to the doorsteps of students as an effective technology transfer initiative.
Commenting on the development made in the manufacturing of electric vehicles, Aliyu said: “Hyundai Kona Electric Vehicle already being assembled in Nigeria, Jet Systems Motors has the Jet Mover Electric Van, Max E has developed an electric motorcycle and Phoenix Renewables is converting mini buses from petrol to electric.”
He stressed that there is an opportunity to collaborate and get the necessary support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) programme of the United Nations in funding electric mobility research and projects in Nigeria.
He pointed out that NADDC has been partnering with the academia from within and outside Nigeria towards solar-powered traction platforms for small farmers, pointing out that the automobile industry will not grow through the importation of vehicles but rather through the development of home-grown technology.
According to him, “Future must be achieved through ubiquitous and sustainable industrialisation, enabled by intelligent electric mobility to every nook and cranny of Africa.
“It is clear there is need for massive industrialisation and transformation in Africa and that it must be achieved without destroying the environment and with the abundance of sustainable energy, electric mobility would be the unparalleled solution”
He, therefore, called on African countries and research institutions to adopt and promote electric vehicles, stressing that Africa needs electric mobility more than any other part of the world.
“People of Africa have incredible heritage and history, from the times of the builders of the great pyramid of Giza to the reign of Mansa Musa of Mali to the dreams, hopes and aspirations of modern-day Africans.
“Dreams, hopes and aspirations that must now be realised to positively change the lives of every man, woman and child on the continent at an aggressive pace,” he added
It would be recalled that the workshop aimed to showcase the activities and impact of the United Nations Global Fuel Economy Initiative ( GFE) in developing countries and to help them improve the efficiency of their relative vehicle fleets, including developing economies and Electric Mobility policies as well as to foster South-South cooperation among the supported countries, and shared the experiences and practical examples from participating countries on cleaner and efficient fuels and Electric Vehicle policy development.
The participants at the workshop were drawn from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, Latin America and the
The Caribbean.
