Nigeria Signs MoU With Israeli, Japanese Companies on Local Production of Electric Car 

* Targets 2023 as kick off date

 Udora Orizu in Abuja

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.