President Bola Tinubu on Friday expressed confidence that Nigeria has the capacity to become an African hub in the global electric vehicle revolution.
He made the declaration at the commissioning of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Conversion, Filling, Reverse Engineering and Training Centre in Utako, Abuja.
Represented by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the president noted that this is possible because of the abundance of deposits of lithium ore which is the raw material for electricity vehicle and battery manufacturing.
He said: “Let me say that we are equally focused on the full range of energy options for powering the Nigerian transport sector. So, in addition to gas, electric vehicles are a major plan of our overall strategy.
“Again, I am aware that NASENI is championing efforts in this direction, with an ambitious plan to develop and build Lithium batteries in Nigeria, working with foreign partners.
“We can and we will make Nigeria an African Hop of the global electric vehicle revolution. Fortunately for us, Nigeria is blessed with abundant deposits of lithium ore, a key mineral in the development of electricity vehicles and electricity batteries.
“We have put in a lot of work on the way to the full implementation of PCNGI and this event today, is a testament to the success of our efforts.”
The President harped on his administration’s vision to promote domestic manufacturing and lessen import dependency in his belief that Nigeria has boundless potential to become a continental and global industrial and manufacturing giant.
“We have the talents, we have the know-how and we have the market. Today, our country is home to the largest single crude oil trade refinery in the entire world. And this is just the beginning, a glimpse of what is possible if we are determined and I must say, we are determined,” he said.
According to him, NASENI is a central player in the attainment of the grand vision of industrialisation.
“That is why, it was one of the agencies of the Federal Government, where we put in place a new management team last year when we came on board,” he stated, saying that he is pleased with the result so far achieved under its Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO), Khalil Halilu.
“I’m also convinced that if we get it right with NASENI, we will get it right with Nigeria’s industrialization programme.
“This is a federal agency that has the mandate and the platform to drive the science, engineering and industrial efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“I am therefore delighted to be here not just as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but also as the Chairman of the Governing Board of NASENI, to witness the coming to fruition of this landmark project that is very much in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of my administration,” Tinubu added.
He pointed out that under the new leadership, NASENI has made it a priority to move from research and development of prototypes into deliberate, viable products that will serve consumers in their homes, offices, industries and farms across the nation.
“NASENI intends to be a leading national brand for high-quality technology and affordable products. It has therefore become imperative for all federal government agencies to fully support NASENI and purchase its product.
“What we are seeing here is the fulfilment of the vision of the founding fathers of NASENI, to create an institution that is relevant and useful to the everyday life of people and to the Nigerian economy.
“It is also gratifying that NASENI is prioritizing collaboration and not competition with the private sector. Indeed, the role of the government is to enable synergy with the private sector and not to compete with the private sector.
“That is why the NASENI collaborative approach is very welcome and is a model that all federal government agencies are advisable encouraged to emulate,” President Tinubu asserted.
He noted that his administration’s Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PCNGI), is a flagship programme by which it actively supports a private sector-led rollout of critical gas infrastructure to drive innovation and industrialisation in the country.
“It is also a major contribution to our vision of fully harnessing our country’s immense gas resources as we transit to net zero emission as envisaged by the energy transition plan,” he added.
The president noted that NASENI’s contribution to the development of technical and human capacity for converting engines to CNG-compliant engines, “demonstrates that we are not only a government that points out where we are headed but also tries to lead by example.
“As chair of the governing board of NASENI, I will continue to provide the oversight and the overall leadership for the attainment of NASENI’s launchpad and its aspirations. We will transform this energy-based agency into a model of public sector excellence of public-private partnership,” President Tinubu stated.
In his remark, the NESENI EVC/CEO explained that the location of the facility in Utako is strategic as it is the transport hub of the FCT, connecting the federal capital to the rest of the country.
Noting that the operation will be expanded to other parts of the country, Halilu assured that NASENI is building a recognizable national brand that will make itself felt in every lives of Nigerians, through “products that will bring down the cost of living, improve the quality of life, promote efficiency, and amplify national pride.”
He revealed that the CNG Center was developed in partnership with Portland and KIA, demonstrating the agency’s collaborative approach, as well as our readiness to leverage existing infrastructure to achieve our mandates.
The EVC/CEO added: “Mr. President, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, at NASENI, we are driven by a desire to conserve resources, avoid duplication of effort, and shorten the time that it takes from product conception to market.
“What this means is that whenever we find a serious partner, who are already operating in areas of our interests, we will work and synergize with them to deliver products and projects that are market-ready. As a government agency, we are not out to compete with the private sector, instead, we hear partners and enablers helping with everything from research to design to testing to scale up production capacity and seeking out new markets and customers. This is what we have just accomplished here with this state-of-the-art centre commission today.
“This facility can convert 15 cars every two hours, translating into an output of 2,700 conversions every month.”
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