There is need for government to begin to map out strategies to embrace the Electric Vehicles (EVS) technology, as beyond moving with current technology, it will also boost medium and small businesses in the country.
This was one of the decisions reached at the end of a public lecture on The Automotive Industry in the 21st Century: Implications for Nigeria, delivered at the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) headquarters Abuja, by a former Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Engr, Aminu Jalal.
Held under the auspices of the Automotive & Locomotive Engineers’ Institute (AutoEI), a division of the NSE, the communique also observed that “the present level of public awareness on Electric Vehicles (EVs) is low.
“An aggressive public awareness campaign on the uses of EVs, charging-points and the NADDC-EV Proto-type should be launched and sustained by NADDC and other Stakeholders. Also the huge micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) business potentials of EVs should be fully exploited for engineering Entrepreneurs to create more jobs for the teeming youths”.
It was also noted that “governments in the advanced economies are encouraging the development of electric vehicles to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The vehicle manufacturers have responded enthusiastically, and in about a decade, sales of electric vehicles are projected to overtake those with internal combustion engines. Thus, the Federal Ministry of Environment should join forces in the development and promotion of the use of EVs in Nigeria to help achieve signed global Climate Change agreements.
“Uninterruptible and High quality electric power is a fundamental infrastructure for the successful adoption of EVs. The Federal Government through it Ministry of Power, Ministry of Transportation and the NADDC should intensify its efforts in collaboration with the private sector in providing cheap, available and adequate electricity especially at major transportation and economic hub of the nation”.
The demand for crude oil is expected to peak in the late 2030s and decline thereafter due to the effect of electric vehicles, the communique stated, hence. “Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, and the NADDC should provide sustainable policies and sponsor legislation from National Assembly to reposition the nation to benefit from enormous opportunities derivable from electric and autonomous vehicles design, production, commercialization and servicing in the bid to achieve a manufacturing and industrialized Nigeria economy”.
Also, the economic diversification policy of government should therefore be given added impetus using EVs economy as an alternative to avert the expected economic decline from the oil economy to keep the nation on a steady economic growth path, it was resolved.
The Chief Host of the occasion was the National Chairman of AutoEI, Engr. Zamani Ishaya-WAIDUNG FNSE, FAutoEI, FNIMechE. The Lecture was graced by Mr. Jelani Aliyu, MFR, the Director General/CEO, National Automotive Design and Development Council who was the Special Guest of Honour at the occasion, Engr. Danazumi Ibrahim, the Director General/CEO, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Professor Abubakar Sani Sambo, FNSE, former Special Adviser on Energy to the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Engr. Hamisu M. Muhammad, FNSE, FAutoEI, former Vice Chancellor, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi.
In attendance were some National Executive officers of NSE, Engr. A.I. Okolo, FNSE, FAutoEI, the General Manager, Industrial Division of PAN, Engr. Ben Nwude, FNSE, FAutoEI, the Immediate Past President of the Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers, Engr. Ahmed Amshei, former Executive Secretary of NSE and Engr. D.A. Gauji, FNSE, FAutoEI, Directors and senior officials of National Automotive Design and Development Council, some senior officials of National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) and many others.
