ACCOMPLISH MAGAZINE DEC 2023

FEATURE / ANALYSIS
can now travel up to
400 miles (Lagos-Warri)
on a single charge. The
most interesting thing in
all this is that by leapfrogging
to EVs, Nigeria
is positioned for, like
Manchester City, a treble
win in 2023.
One, the mineral
resources required to
build EVs manufacturing
factories, electric
batteries and charging
accessories are all
available in Nigeria in
commercial quantities
such as: lithium,
manganese oxide,
cobalt, graphite, steel,
and nickel. Two, there
will be more premium
motor spirit for export
as consumption drops
drastically in Nigeria.
Three, there will be a
considerable reduction
in pollution, enhancing
the quality of lives of
Nigerians.
As part of the
intervention policy, the
Federal Government
can import 12,000
electric buses to be
shared among the 36
states, and the 370
tertiary institutions in
Nigeria through the
National Association of
Nigerian Students, NANS,
and mandating all
the existing petroleum
fueling stations to install
EVs charging points
immediately.
With an investment of
about $500 million in
EV buses and charging
points taken from
the $800 million fuel
subsidy palliative fund,
the transportation
system will get
stabilised as inflation
goes southward.
Consequently, all the
aged, 65+ retirees,
physically challenged,
and students would be
able to enjoy free public
transportation. That
was the road not taken
which would have led to
a renewed hope, instead
of “renewed pains”
from Day One of the
current administration.
Increasing workers’
salaries is necessary
but not sufficient:
it is only 10% of the
solution. What about
students, retirees, the
physically challenged,
unemployed and the
aged? The proposed
mass EVs transportation
system is a better
comprehensive solution:
achievable, effective
and inexpensive.
Recently, the Chinese
BYD company
established an e-bus
factory in Europe
tagged ‘’Made in Europe
for Europe’’. This can
• Ajaokuta Steel Company
be replicated in the
Middle Belt: ‘’Made
in Africa for Africa’’.
Putting 250,000 Middle
Belt youths on gainful
direct and indirect
EVs employments
within the next 18
months is a stronger
“Panadol” to cure the
triple headaches of
youth unemployment,
insecurity and multidimensional
poverty
than transferring N5,000
to their accounts under
the cash transfer policy,
which is barely enough
to buy 3 loaves of bread!
Furthermore, the 4th
generation-farming is
like “Panadol Extra” to
cure PBAT’s revenue
headache. For instance,
the yearly global fish
revenue is $610 billion.
Meanwhile, of the
923, 770km Nigeria’s
landmass, the coastline
is 853 km. Empowering
fish farmers from the
Niger Delta axis with
modern fish farming
skills and technology
from Vietnam will make
Nigeria become a net
exporter of fish in 12
months, thereby saving
the yearly $1.27 billion
spent in fish importation.
Similarly, to reflate the
economy of Edo-Cross
River axis, modern
technology for banana
cultivation and logistics
can be borrowed from
Ecuador, the world’s
largest banana exporter
with a yearly revenue
in excess $3.5 billion.
For the people of Osun-
Oyo axis to recapture
lost ground in cassava
farming, Thailand
innovations would help
with a yield of100:1 better
than Nigeria.
The size of the global
24 | Accomplish Magazine