By Abubakar Yunusa
The Chief Executive Officer of Haitong Nigeria Limited and Executive Vice-Chairman of BYD Nigeria, Chief Moses Ayom, on Friday said Nigeria must take decisive steps to avoid being left behind in the global shift to electric mobility.
Speaking at a two-day COP-30 Follow-Up Action Meeting and the launch of a Climate-Smart Electric Vehicle Recharge Hub in Abuja, he said the initiative was a practical response to the outcomes of the UN climate conference held recently in Belém, Brazil.
Ayom said the event, organised by BYD Nigeria and Haitong in partnership with the Grassroots Centre for Rights and Civic Orientation, was aimed at turning global climate commitments into concrete local action.
He said the new recharge hub would serve government agencies, businesses, and individuals using electric vehicles, adding that its fast-charging facility could fully power an EV in 40 minutes.
According to him, “Practical action speaks louder than words. We are investing in structures and infrastructure that will transform mobility and empower our people.”
Ayom noted that the hub would support skills development, technology transfer and job opportunities for young people in EV retail and maintenance, as well as serve as a training centre for technicians.
Describing COP-30 as the “COP of truth”, he said the world had reached a point where climate action must translate into reality and not remain in negotiation rooms.
He highlighted the just transition outcome of the climate talks, saying the hub aligned with global expectations that climate action must not leave vulnerable communities behind.
Ayom commended President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Federal Capital Territory’s smart city drive, saying both policies provided investors with clear signals to support climate-friendly solutions.
He emphasised that government alone could not solve the climate crisis, calling for a “whole-of-society” collaboration to drive green mobility.
The Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change, Mrs Omotenioye Majekodunmi, represented by Jummai Vandu, praised the project as a strategic step that aligned with Nigeria’s climate commitments and the global push for low-emissions transport.
“At COP-30, the world agreed that transforming the transport sector is non-negotiable if we must keep the 1.5°C goal alive,” she said.
The DG said the recharge hub would support renewable-energy integration, green industrialisation, and the creation of green jobs necessary for a just transition.
The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Shehu Mohammed, represented by Chief Route Commander Christopher Eya, also commended BYD Nigeria for developing EV-charging technology that supports all brands of electric vehicles.
He described the Climate-Smart EV Recharge Hub as a modern facility powered by clean energy and designed to reduce pollution in urban and rural communities.
“Electric vehicles are encouraged because they eliminate pollutants associated with exhaust emissions,” he said.
Mohammed added that the Corps was committed to supporting the adoption of modern transport technologies that promote safety and environmental sustainability.
He said improved infrastructure and technology would help build a safer motoring environment and support Nigeria’s smart city aspirations.
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