Nigeria: a narrative of competing needs between shifting global trend, sustainable transportation, and economic growth

ABSTRACT

Nigeria is the biggest economy in Africa and a significant player in the geopolitics of the continent. The country's ability to command so much relevance is based partly on its status as an oil exporter. It is, therefore, imperative that the country's government protects its golden goose, oil. In this paper, we argue that the recent act of the Nigerian government to resist the promotion of electric vehicles (EV) in the country as a way to protect its economic goose is ill advised. We contend that global transportation and energy phenomena suggest that for Nigeria to remain relevant in the future of the world economy, it is pertinent that it pursues a shift from its current economic model. To buttress our claim, we show how embracing sustainable transportation systems like adopting EV promoting policies, can give Nigeria a rare opportunity to be a big player in the future world economy.

KEYWORDS:

• Nigeria
• electric vehicle
• energy
• transportation
• fossil fuel

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 This is the advantage gained by the initial significant occupant of a subsector.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Onah P. Thompson

Onah P. Thompson is a Public Policy Doctoral Candidate at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA. With a focus on Africa and other developing countries, he studies conflict processes, decisions taken by those forcefully displaced by conflict, and how institutional factors influence these processes. His research interest is also at the nexus of climate change, sustainability and environmental security.

Faisal B. Mallum

Faisal Mallum is a doctoral student in the Planning and Urban Studies Department of the University of New Orleans. He holds a Master of Science in Logistics, Trade & Transportation, and another Master of Science in Economic Development, both from the University of Southern Mississippi, USA. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria. He is presently a Graduate Researcher at the University of New Orleans Transportation Institute. His research interest is transportation and international trade policy, economic development, and urban studies.

Gloria O. Chigbu

Gloria Onyinyechi Chigbu is presently a doctoral student in the Mass Communication and Media Technology Department, Lead City University, Ibadan. A core media educator with a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Bayero University Kano, a post-graduate diploma in education and a master’s degree in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos. She is also the author of the book Concise Media Law and Ethics and an associate member of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations.