Nigeria’s Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Olamilekan Adegbite has urged Nigerians to get ready for the use of electric cars.
The Minister said this is important because the world is exploring environmentally friendly sources of energy and moving away from fossil fuel.
Adegbite made this known at an interactive session between the Federal Government and the State Governments on Tuesday in Lagos.
He said that the forum was important to ensure that investors coming into the country do not have to face a lot of barriers after being licensed by the federal government to do business in the mining sector.
Adegbite also revealed that some state governors were trying to take advantage of minerals discovered in their states to boost their revenue base without following due process though it is clear mining was in the exclusive list.
He further disclosed that the federal government was engaging such governors to show them it is better to let the funds from such minerals come into the federation account so that they could benefit through the 13 percent derivation fund, which some were already benefiting from.
The minister also stated that investors all over the world are aware of the mining potential of Nigeria but they really want assurances that would get returns for their investments.
Adegbite further said that there would be a time when oil would no longer be attractive, hence the need to solidify the mining and agriculture sectors.
He said, “The world is looking away from fossil fuel, talking of climate change, it is warming up and everybody is looking elsewhere.
“Some countries have set targets in the near future when they will ban fossil fuel vehicles, so all vehicles you will find will be electric cars, so Nigeria needs to prepare well ahead of time for this.”
