NIGERIA. Lagos: The Nigerian Ministry of Power, in collaboration with the European Union’s (EU)-funded Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) and the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), has created electric vehicles (EV).
The project, which is the first of its sort in Nigeria, was completed at Gbamu-Gbamu, a mini-grid site, and was funded by the EU and the German government before it could be implemented. This demonstrates the importance of electric vehicles in both rural and urban settings.
The Acting Director of the Ministry’s Renewable and Rural Power Access Department, Abubakar Dapshima, stated during the introduction of the EV in Lagos that the importance of the EV in Nigeria cannot be defined.
Dapshima went on to say that the project will go a long way toward increasing work opportunities for adolescents and that it will be an added benefit in terms of mobility, as it will alleviate transportation woes while also contributing to the nation’s economic growth.
In addition, the Executive Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Barka Sajou, stated that further investment in the solar mini-grid sector is needed for the project to be sustained and that people should use the initiative wisely for sustainability and optimal performance.
Sajou further stated that in order for Nigeria to do this, the Rural Electrification Agency and NESP must provide appropriate assistance for the mini-grid to meet its goals.
Inga Stefanowicz, Head of Section, Green and Digital Economy at the EU delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Communities of West African States (ECOWAS), said that the EU’s support is aimed at allowing for improved market investment in renewable energy in Nigeria in order to achieve affordable and high-quality electrification.
However, Stefanowicz stated that the EU is highly interested in investing in a concept like this that is capable of producing more energy and strengthening the solar industry, such as electric vehicles (EVs).
According to Jelani Aliyu, Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), his ministry is highly interested in supporting such an initiative because it has the potential to improve investment opportunities in the automotive sector.
The National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) of the NADDC, which is now being implemented, captures the importance of electric vehicles in propelling Nigeria’s economy.
The organisation has permitted and supported the assembly of Nigeria’s first electric vehicle, the Hyundai Kona EV, and is now developing methods to scale and mainstream EVs throughout the country.
As a result, Aliyu praised the initiators’ efforts and asked them to keep up the momentum, noting that electric motorbikes are now visible throughout the county as a result of Nigeria’s transition to electric transportation.
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