The Presidency has called for the expansion of electric vehicle initiatives across Nigeria, saying private-sector investments could complement Federal Government efforts to modernise the nation’s transportation system.
The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Transportation and Mobility, Prince Adetokunbo Ade-John, made the call at the launch of the ProTaxi e-hailing platform in Abuja on Thursday.
Ade-John commended the Chief Executive Officer of PromiseLand Innovation, Emmanuel Oloche, for the rollout of 1,000 electric vehicles, describing the initiative as a practical demonstration of the drive to modernise transportation and mobility in the country.
He said the Federal Government was pursuing the deployment of electric buses and compressed natural gas-powered vehicles, adding that private initiatives could complement government efforts to transform the transport sector.
“I commend the CEO of PromiseLand Innovation for taking this bold step in advancing transportation and mobility in Nigeria.
“We encourage PromiseLand Innovation to sustain this initiative and expand it to other parts of the country,” he said.
Ade-John also said he would present the initiative to key Federal Government officials and relevant agencies for consideration. He urged Nigerians to support locally developed solutions, noting that Oloche had committed personal resources to the project.
“If a single man can do this with his personal resources, we don’t need investors from outside. You are a son of the soil,” he said.
Oloche said the ProTaxi platform was conceived as part of PromiseLand Innovation’s broader plan to use technology to create economic opportunities and help people move from poverty to prosperity.
He said the platform was designed to create opportunities for drivers and their families while providing Nigerians with an affordable transportation option through electric mobility.
“We believe that when we create opportunities for thousands of drivers, we are not watching families, but we are reshaping communities,” Oloche said.
He said the company planned to expand beyond Nigeria and build an African technology company capable of competing globally.
“Our mission is to build an African technology company that will transform everyday living and eventually compete with the best in the world,” he said.
By: Solomon Odeniyi
