Olufemi Adeyemi
NASENI officials and reps of the firms collaborating to produce e-vehicles |
Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Israeli and Japanese companies for the assembling and manufacturing of environmentally friendly electric and smart automobiles by 2023.
The National Agency for Science and Engineering
Infrastructure (NASENI) entered into the partnership with the Israeli, Japanese
and Nigerian companies in Abuja.
Speaking on the occasion, Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI,
Prof Mohammed Haruna, lauded the collaboration which he said had come to stay and would be domesticated in the
country.
He said the project Nigeria would see to the manufacturing
of Nigerian made electric vehicles in the nearest future.
“The first attempt to domesticate certain technologies in
this country, especially in the automobile industry has not worked with
continuous importation.
“NASENI has come into this now with the perfect partners,
Japanese and Israeli companies their technologies are proven and known.
“But most importantly, Nigeria will not just be consuming
this technology, we are here to make sure that we domesticate, produce and
manufacture in Nigeria.
“We are grateful and we are happy with this collaboration
and we assure Nigerians that the automobile industry after this collaboration
will not be the same again,” Haruna said.
On his part, Representative of the Israeli Company, Peramare
Enterprise, Dr Ayal Raz said against some perception, Nigeria was safe to
invest.
According to him “With this innovative idea, we believe is
going to change so many things in the face of Nigeria.
“It will bring green energy which means cheaper cost of
transport and we all know what that means for our people.
“It will give work to the people because it is industry, we
are going to put a factory here, we will start with assembling then building.
It will give us less pollution and greener air.
“Nigeria is safe to do business and by the special grace of
God it is going to come during the first
quarter of 2023″.
Also speaking, Isreali Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael
Freeman, said the partnership which was a combination of Israeli, Japanese and
Nigerian technologies would help address the many challenges affecting the
transport and environmental sectors in Nigeria.
According to him: “It is a project that is a partnership
with Israeli, Japanese and Nigerian companies taking place in Nigeria.
“What is special about this project is that it is a timely
project that combines Israeli technologies, Japanese technologies, Nigerian
entrepreneurship and innovation together to create a project that is going to
work fabulously.
“We are talking about bringing electronic Motorcycles into
Nigeria which will be a programme that is green, environmentally friendly.
“It offers people a cheap way and safe way of transport and
even has a technology to ensure that the motorcycles are only used for legal
and appropriate purposes.
“When we look at what the problems are in the world and in
also in Africa and in Nigeria, we are talking about issues of fuel scarcity, we
are talking about green technology, we are talking about the need to provide
cleaner, cheaper, easier transport.
“And here we are, having Israeli and Japanese companies
coming together with Nigerian partners to provide cleaner, greener, newer,
exciting technology that is expected to move people, population across the
country.
“I believe that a programme that is going to start in
Nigeria will be successful and will go across Africa”.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SIXAI, the Japanese
Partner Mr Sasi Shilo,said his company
beyond production is keen on supporting the African continent, Nigeria build a
sustainable nation with clean and safe
technologies.
“It is very exciting moment. We have been working in the
automobile industry for about half a decade, we have certified plants in
fourteen different countries.
“We really want to contribute to African nation with our
technology. What we want to bring is not only to produce but what we want to
achieve is to support the African nation to be sustainable.
“Through our products with safety and environmentally
friendly features in our technology,” Sasi said.
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