By Chuks Oyema-Aziken, GLASGOW
The Federal Government says the establishment of three pilot electric motor vehicles charging points in the country is one of the measures to achieve net zero emissions.
The Director-General, Nigerian Automotive Design and Development Council, Dr Jelani Aliyu disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Thursday at the Nigerian Pavilion of the ongoing COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow, Scotland.
Aliyu said Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind as nation’s advance technologically.
“Like I said, the world is in a race on the backs of eagle and Nigeria cannot afford to be in that race on the back of anything less either a falcon or a hawk. So whatever advanced technology is being leverage around the world for human development, we must understand, adopt and develop the same kind of technology to uplift our own people.
He maintened that production of electric cars will create several economic opportunities including jobs for Nigerians.
“So how do we through the provision of effective transportation solutions put those smiles on people’s faces and the quickest way is to maintain effective, lower price and create jobs as you do that and when you talk about all these threes, you are talking about local production because you are keeping the capital within Nigeria.
“You are creating jobs, you are taking young Nigerians off the streets and you are advancing technology transfer. So it is a really a great opportunity to be part of making your own country better.
“There are a number of things that are happening, first we have the national commitment that we will go net zero by 2060, I think that is a sufficient time for us to really develop the alternative solutions for transportation.
“So when you look at net zero, an integral part of that is an electric vehicle, transition of fuel with the gas, that reduces significantly the amount of gas, of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide that is emitted out of the vehicles and you go to the next step which is the vehicular electrification.
“So both of these are already happening in Nigeria, we have already started producing and Assembly of electric vehicles, we have already started producing and assembly gas powered vehicles. So I believe we are on our way.
“So what needs to happen now is for all relevant government agencies and for all relevant stakeholders, public, private to really come together towards that vision of achieving net zero by 2060 and I believe it is doable and that is what the president has announced.
“We in Nigeria yes we have problems, we have challenges but we will not allow ourselves to be defined by those challenges, we will only be defined by our dreams and aspirations, we must be defined by what we can achieve.
“It is never about what is in front of me, it is about what can I put in front of me, how do I make my life better. So how do we collectively as Nigerians make our lives better. I believe we can do it, whatever has been done around the world could easily be replicated here.
He added that the 2060 target of net Zero emission as set by President Muhammadu Buhari is achievable.
“I think the target is very achievable God willing because that gives us sufficient time to really get there and like I said we have already started. It is not like Nigeria is waiting until 2050 or 2055 to start, we have started.
“So don’t be surprised if we meet those targets even before 2060 because I believe something great is happening in Nigeria, the leadership is now very committed in changing the lives of people for better and young Nigerians themselves that I have interacted with, they are also beginning to come together to want a better future for themselves. So when you have those two things come together, great things happen.
“What is unique about electric vehicles is that you can charge them even while at home. This electric vehicle can plug into any socket for air conditioners, so anyone can charge electric vehicles at home.”Now the reason for dedicated electric vehicle charging station is so that you can charge it faster and so what we have done is that we are working on three of them; Sokoto, Lagos and Nsukka. These are pilot programmes; what we hope to do is prove that the concept works and then invite the private sector to replicate.
“Just imagine there must have been when the very first vehicle got off the ship in Lagos unto Nigeria shore, the very first car in Nigeria, at that time I am sure there were no fuel stations, someone they got to fuel that vehicle.
“This is where we are now with electric vehicles and as we move on, government but most especially the private sector is going to be encouraged to build more of these charging stations because we see it more as very viable economic venture.So it is actually the task of the private sector to come in and provide these charging stations across the country.”
