By Comr. C. I. Duke
When I first heard that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu was sponsoring an electric vehicle bill, I was initially genuinely concerned with some questions running through my mind. Electric vehicles? In Nigeria? Where we can’t even get steady electricity? A country that relies on crude oil?
Without a closer look, it sounded like one of those fancy bills that would look good on paper but have nothing to do with our everyday reality. But then, I said, if this bill is coming from OUK, a man who grew up in “ogbe” (we can comfortably call him onye ogbe anyị), understanding the challenges, problems and feelings of the common man, down to the beggars on the streets, it should not be dismissed with a wave of hand.
A brief look into the framework, I can tell you that this sustainable transportation initiative is beyond what I expected. This is not some copy and paste job from Western countries, typical of what we see in some bills that end up not being implementable. A bill that actually understands Nigeria’s challenges and proposes realistic solutions. And if this sustainable transportation initiative succeeds, we might just look back at 2025 as the year Nigeria began to seriously transform its automotive sector.
What Electric Vehicle Transition Bill Is
Let me walk you through what Senator Kalu’s sustainable transportation initiative actually proposes.
A comprehensive legislation that seeks to transition Nigeria from fossil fuel-dependent transportation to electric vehicles, this OUK’s bill creates a multi-agency regulatory framework to position Nigeria as Africa’s hub for electric vehicle production whilst creating jobs and reducing carbon emissions.
First, there are serious incentives for anyone willing to invest in electric vehicles in Nigeria. We are talking tax holidays for manufacturers, import duty waivers on components, and exemptions from tolls and road taxes for electric vehicle users.
The bill also mandates that every fuel station in Nigeria must install charging points. This initiative obviously solves the problem of where to charge them from the start; a major concern of Nigerians on electric vehicles.
But here is where it gets really interesting for us as Nigerians. The bill says foreign car companies must partner with Nigerian companies and set up actual manufacturing plants here within three years. Not just bring in finished cars and sell them. And by 2030, 30% of the parts used in these vehicles must be made right here in Nigeria. This means job opportunities for Nigerians. Real manufacturing jobs. Not just the usual import-and-sell business that has kept us as perpetual consumers. This Electric Vehicle Transition Bill is about building actual industrial capacity.
The bill also sets up a coordinated system involving the Ministries of Industry, Transportation, Power, Environment, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service. This multi-agency approach shows that Senator Kalu understands that this sustainable transportation initiative isn’t just about cars, it is about power supply, it is about infrastructure, it is about taxation, it is about everything.
The Economic Sense Behind The Bill
The global electric vehicle market is projected to hit $957.42 billion by 2030. Right now, Africa accounts for less than 1% of that market. Nigeria, with our population of over 200 million people and as a competing economy at the top, should be capturing a significant chunk of the African market. Capturing the market and possibly moving it beyond the current approximate 1%, demands adequate preparation. This bill, which will not be out of place to be referred to as OUK’s bill, is the basics for the preparation and setting the architectural framework for success.
The automotive industry is special in the sense that for every one job created in vehicle assembly, you create about seven to ten other jobs in the supply chain. In this, you talk about component manufacturing, retail shops, maintenance centres, spare parts businesses and public transportation itself. If this sustainable transportation initiative takes off and we establish even a moderate electric vehicle manufacturing capacity, that would take care of hundreds of thousands of jobs.
Despite the current improvement in locally refined petrol, every year, we are spending billions of dollars on fuel imports. Now imagine if a significant portion of our vehicles were running on electricity generated locally. That is billions of dollars retained and circulated within Nigeria economy instead of being sent abroad. This sustainable transportation initiative could transform our balance of payments.
Air pollution costs our economy billions every year through healthcare expenses and lost productivity. The constant smog, the coughing, the breathing problems are all associated with air pollution. This sustainable transportation initiative addresses that directly. Electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions. The air gets cleaner, people get healthier, and we spend less on treating pollution related illnesses.
Looking at What Other Countries Have Done
Let us look at how other countries have handled their sustainable transportation initiatives, and the lessons are fascinating.
China is the most instructive case. In 2009, they launched their New Energy Vehicle programme with aggressive subsidies, infrastructure development, and local content requirements, similar to what Senator Kalu’s sustainable transportation initiative proposes. Today, China dominates global electric vehicle production. They account for over 60% of worldwide sales. Chinese companies like BYD are now global leaders, and they have created millions of jobs in the sector.
But here is what is important for us: China did not start with rich people buying electric cars. They started with electric buses, electric taxis, electric delivery vehicles. They made electric vehicles part of everyday life for ordinary citizens first. That is the template this sustainable transportation initiative tends to follow if well implemented.
Norway took a different approach. They focused heavily on consumer incentives. Electric vehicle buyers got exemptions from purchase taxes, VAT, road tolls, and parking fees. They could use bus lanes and charge for free at public stations. The result? Today, over 80% of new car sales in Norway are electric vehicles.
India’s approach is particularly relevant for us because their economic situation is similar to ours. India focused on electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers (their version of keke) before tackling private cars. They recognized that for most Indians, these were the relevant forms of transport. By 2023, electric two-wheelers accounted for 5% of the Indian market and growing fast.
Costa Rica combined their electric vehicle push with renewable energy development. They achieved over 98% renewable electricity and are rapidly transitioning their transport sector. This is another important angle, that a sustainable transportation initiative only makes sense if the electricity powering the vehicles is clean and reliable.
How Electric Cars Can Benefit Everyday Nigerians
A sustainable transportation initiative that only benefits wealthy Nigerians is just another elite project. But my excitement is that this project has the potential of cutting across every strata of the society if done right.
Imagine electric buses replacing the smoke-belching danfo, molue, rickety coaster buses, popular “Elrufai buses” and private taxis that currently dominate Lagos, Abuja, and other cities. Electric buses have lower operating costs because electricity is cheaper than petrol, and they need less maintenance. These savings can translate to lower transport fares for us as commuters. Plus, cleaner air to breathe. This sustainable transportation initiative could make your daily commute cheaper and healthier.
For a taxi driver, keke rider, or okada rider, the operating cost of an electric vehicle is roughly 70% lower than a petrol vehicle over its lifetime. In a closer breakdown, if you are currently spending ₦10,000 daily on fuel, with an electric vehicle, you could potentially reduce that to ₦3,000. That is ₦7,000 daily extra income. Over a month, over ₦200,000 extra could be in your pocket. For most Nigerian families, that is life changing.
Small business owners who rely on delivery vehicles or keke for logistics, this sustainable transportation initiative could transform the operating costs. Electric delivery vehicles would slash fuel expenses, potentially leading to price reduction for customers. The entrepreneurs using this option would have better competitive opportunities.
Additionally, this sustainable transportation initiative would open up entirely new career paths for those who have technical skills or are willing to learn. Professions like battery technicians, charging infrastructure specialists, electric vehicle mechanics will need thousands of workers as the sector develops. And these are not jobs that require fancy university degrees. Good technical training is enough.
There will be opportunities to set up charging stations, especially in areas where the big companies don’t immediately focus. There will be opportunities in maintenance and repairs. There will be opportunities in component manufacturing. This sustainable transportation initiative is going to create a whole new business ecosystem.
Why the Electric Vehicle Transition Bill Matters for Nigeria’s Future
We have seen too many interesting policies that go nowhere, but I have this confidence that this sustainable transportation initiative would be different.
The global automotive industry is rapidly shifting to electric vehicles. The International Energy Agency projects that by 2030, electric vehicles will account for 60% of global vehicle sales. Countries without electric vehicle manufacturing capacity will just be consumers, importing expensive vehicles and technology forever.
By establishing local manufacturing now through this sustainable transportation initiative, Nigeria positions itself to potentially become an electric vehicle exporter to other African countries. With our population and growing manufacturing capacity, we could become the automotive hub for West Africa.
The technology transfer provisions in this sustainable transportation initiative are particularly smart. We are not just assembling vehicles from completely imported parts, we are forcing actual technology transfer and capability development. By 2030, Nigerian companies will have the knowledge and capacity to manufacture 30% of vehicle components. By 2040, this could be 50% or more. This is how you build real industrial capacity through a sustainable transportation initiative.
Why Senator Orji Uzor Kalu Deserves Recognition
Senator Kalu deserves serious credit for this sustainable transportation initiative which is thinking decades ahead. What impresses me most is the bill’s comprehensiveness. It is not just about electric vehicles but about manufacturing, technology transfer, infrastructure development, environmental repairs, and economic diversification. It is rare to see legislation that thinks systemically about how different pieces fit together. This holistic approach is what makes it a truly transformative sustainable transportation initiative.
The local content provisions deserve special praise. Too many Nigerian policies encourage imports or token local assembly with all real value going to foreign companies. This sustainable transportation initiative mandates actual capability development. That is nationalism done right, not by shutting out the world, but by ensuring Nigeria benefits substantially from global engagement.
The bipartisan support this sustainable transportation initiative has received is also noteworthy. In our polarised political environment, the fact that senators across party lines are backing this bill suggests it addresses a genuine national need that transcends partisan politics.
Way Forward
The bill has passed second reading, a significant milestone but just the beginning. The real work starts now in the committee stage, where details will be refined and implementation mechanisms clarified.
This is where civil society, labour unions, consumer groups, and ordinary Nigerians need to engage. The principles of this sustainable transportation initiative are excellent, but the details of implementation will determine success or failure. We need to ensure strong consumer protections, real affordability mechanisms, solid job creation provisions, and accountability measures.
International partners should be engaged for technical support and financing. Countries like China, Norway, and India have learned valuable lessons that we can benefit from. Multilateral development banks should be approached for concessional financing. Global partnerships will strengthen this sustainable transportation initiative.
The private sector needs clarity and credible commitment from the government to invest at the required scale. If properly implemented, this sustainable transportation initiative will create massive opportunities for private investment in manufacturing, infrastructure, and services. This is what the sustainable transportation initiative represents, not just a bill about electric vehicles, but a different vision of what Nigerian governance could be.
As I Conclude
So, if this succeeds, a big salute to OUK. Not because the bill is perfect, but because it represents the kind of forward-thinking, comprehensive, ambitious policymaking that can actually transform Nigeria.
In a political environment dominated by short-term thinking and ethnic calculations, Senator Kalu has demonstrated what visionary leadership looks like. He is championing a policy that won’t fully bear fruit within his political lifetime, thinking about what Nigeria could be rather than just managing what Nigeria is.
This is also a call to all of us to engage with this sustainable transportation initiative, refine it, improve it, and ensure it actually delivers on its promise to transform Nigeria’s automotive sector and create opportunities for ordinary Nigerians.
The framework has been provided. Now it is up to all of us to turn it into reality.
Duke writes from Abia North
