A memorandum of Understanding, MoU, has been signed by Oldang International Limited, a Nigerian firm, with Halkoff Logistics and Hornson Development Limited, Chinese companies, to produce solar and electric powered vehicles in Nigeria.

Oldang electric and solar powered vehicle is an automobile propelled by one or more electric motors, using electrical energy stored in rechargeable batteries or another energy storage device.

At the signing of the MoU in Lagos on Sunday, 29, Olubunmi Oluwadare, the managing director, Oldang International Limited, said that the project, which would start in January next year, could produce up to 150 solar vehicles per day.

According to Oluwadare, the project is expected  to generate more than 50,000 direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians,  in its first phase with projected sales of up to 100,000 solar and electric vehicles in 2018.

“What we are doing now is that we want the value chain to create employment opportunities, which is very key to what we are doing. The machines are coming from China while the time frame will be three months. What we are trying to do is that the first phase should start immediately, meaning that the other parts, like the battery section and the solar panel section, will start coming. We are likely going to take off by January 2018.

“The first phase will create 550 jobs. Indirectly, it will create 50,000 jobs because we have people that are going to operate the charging stations, the repairs, the dealership, sales and those along the value chain,” Oluwadare said

On his part, Mohammed Dangote, non-executive director of Oldang, said the project would create change in the transportation system through the use of natural resources and reduced cost of transportation.

“I believe this will show the masses that government is really working to make a safer, cleaner and healthier Nigeria. A project like this will literally open eyes that it is possible to go for change that will not cost a lot of money,” he said.

– Oct 30, 2017 @ 11:37 GMT |