The Federal Government has reiterated commitment to promote the manufacturing and usage of Electric Vehicles (EVs), to ensure clean environment and to grow the nation’s economy.
Mr Joseph Osanipin, Director- General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), said this when he visited Possible EVs Experience Centre on Friday in Abuja.
Possible EVs is an electric vehicle manufacturing company that is seeking an enabling environment to manufacture vehicles in Nigeria.
Osanipin, while acknowledging the level of investments EVs could bring to the country, said the government was committed to collaborating with relevant stakeholders to support such innovations.
He also reiterated that due to the health hazards brought about by emissions, electric vehicles was the way to go for the country.
Osanipin said, “We will key into your idea of clean environment. We are ready and will support young companies like you, as you deserve to be supported. And we are going to do whatever it takes to support you.
“Like I mentioned earlier, we are happy because we know the kind of revolution and investment EV is going to bring to the sector and the entire country, investments in different sectors.
“It will also create jobs among other things. So, we will work with you and give you maximum support.”
Earlier, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Possible EVs, Mosope Olaosebikan, said the essence of the meeting was to seek the collaboration of the NADDC to ensure clean environment for Nigerians.
“Our goal fundamentally is to impact positively on the country’s economy, move to cleaner and efficient ways of transportation, let Nigerians move in our own vehicles and improve the ecosystem.
“While we try to do that, we are going to create jobs; we have set up our own factory in Idu to facilitate the production and usage of local materials, thus increasing local content.
“We are just one year old and we have been trying to expand, to let Nigerians know that these things are possible.
“This is an opportunity for us to join other climes to advance our economy through EVs and we can only achieve that through the support of NADDC,” he said.
On affordability, Olaosebikan said the cost of the vehicles would be reduced, once the manufacturing of local production commenced and when government provided the right environment to do business.
The chief executive said the company was also collaborating with the federal government to deploy 100 vehicles before second quarter 2024, that would help ease transportation for Nigerians.
He said, “We are going to make the government proud by ensuring that we deliver the best in terms of quality.
“We are going to deploy about 50 taxis to complement the buses; we hope that as more people enter the vehicles they will make a decision to switch to electric vehicles.
“We are also talking with local and foreign investors right now, to raise a hundred million dollar fund; our goal is to have 50 percent local production by next year.”
