FGN, EU and Germany unveil Electric Motorcycles For Rural Communities
Federal Ministry of Power, yesterday in Lagos, unveiled 10 electric-powered motorcycles manufactured by MAX Nigeria under its Electric Vehicle, EV, opportunities in rural and peri-urban communities.
The pilot project was funded by the European Union, EU, and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, within the framework of the Nigerian Energy Support Programme, NESP.
The motorcycles were deployed to Gbamu-Gbamu mini-grid solar community in Ogun State to transport goods and agricultural produce under the pilot phase of the programme.
Director, Renewable and Rural Power Access Department, Federal Ministry of Power, Mr Abubakar Ali-Dapshima, said electric mobility is very important to the socio-economic development of rural and peri-urban communities.
Executive Director, Rural Electrification Agency, REA, Mr Barka Sajou, urged investors to explore the solar mini-grid sector in the country.
Sajou noted that one major challenge to the sustainability of the sector is the adoption of mini-grids for productive activities.
“To resolve this, REA, with support from NESP, continues to support mini-grid developers to scale-up sustainable solutions for the sector”, he said.
Director-General, National Automotive Design and Development Council, NADDC, Mr Jelani Aliyu, reiterated the agency’s commitment to promote investment in the automotive sector.
Aliyu noted that EVs was not just the future of transportation, but a technology already in use and beginning a paradigm shift, even in Nigeria.
He said: “NADDC’s National Automotive Industry Development Plan, NAIDP, currently being implemented, captures the role of EVs in driving Nigeria’s economy.
“Recently, the agency enabled and promoted the assembly of the first electric vehicle in Nigeria, the Hyundai Kona EV, and is now working on strategies to scale and mainstream EVs across Nigeria’’.
On her part, the Head of Section, Green and Digital Economy at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Inga Stefanowicz, pledged EU’s support to the project.
According to her, EU’s support within the framework of NESP aims to create an open market for more investments in the renewable energy market in Nigeria.
She said this was in order to advance access to reliable and affordable electricity in Nigeria, especially in the disadvantaged areas of the country.
Earlier, the Head of Programme, NESP, Mr Duke Benjamin, said the programme had provided capital in-kind grants to support the development of six solar mini-grids in rural communities.
Benjamin, represented by the Head of Unit, Sustainable Energy Access, NESP, Mr Olumide Fatoki, said they were able to provide clean electricity to approximately 16,000 people across five states in Nigeria.
He said: “Nigeria has up to 100 operational mini-grid sites that have extra or additional power to give.
“Hence, NESP is trying to increase productive usage in these places to increase social/economic activities and improve livelihood.
“Data provided by NigeriaSE4All platform (www.nigeriase4all.gov.ng) shows the possibility of 4,000 potential mini-grid sites that could be developed’’.
SOURCE: Aljazeera
