Presidency Links ProTaxi Electric Vehicle Rollout to Nigeria’s Transport Transition

The Presidency has described the rollout of 1,000 electric vehicles under the ProTaxi e-hailing platform in Abuja as an example of how private-sector investment could support Nigeria’s transition towards cleaner and more sustainable transportation.

Prince Adetokunbo Ademola Ade-John, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Transportation and Mobility, made the remarks on Thursday at the official launch of ProTaxi in Abuja.

Ade-John said the initiative was relevant to the Federal Government’s transportation policy, particularly its efforts to expand the use of electric and compressed natural gas-powered vehicles.

“Fine. We have the Renewed Hope Agenda mission. But this has really shown and practically exuded our mission,” he said.

He noted that the Federal Government was already working on the deployment of electric buses and CNG-powered vehicles, adding that the private-sector initiative demonstrated how such policies could be translated into operational transportation services.

“In line with this agenda, there is ongoing distribution of electrical buses, CNG. But this alone has shown, sir, you are not just the governor of the masses. You are not only a common man, but you have shown love to the common people of Nigeria,” Ade-John said.

The presidential aide commended the investment by the Chief Executive Officer of Promiseland Innovation, Amb. Emmanuel Lawrence Oloche, while encouraging the company to sustain and develop the initiative.

“I am proud of you as a personal friend, as a brother, as an ambassador of the goodwill of Nigeria. Keep it up, sir,” he said.

Ade-John also said projects such as ProTaxi could contribute to the development of local capacity and provide a practical reference point for future transportation initiatives.

“And I also encourage every one of us, this is not only an investment, you have taught the generation to come. The generation coming will also see your legacy that you’ve laid down,” he said.

He stressed that the deployment of the electric vehicles represented an operational application of an emerging transportation policy rather than simply a policy proposal.

“Fine, we have initiative, but this is purely practical. I see some of these buses, and some of these taxis displayed,” Ade-John said.

Ade-John disclosed that he would communicate details of the ProTaxi initiative to relevant officials and agencies of the Federal Government for consideration within the broader transportation policy framework.

“I am putting it to you, I am passing your message to the presidency. I am taking you, in fact, as I speak to you, I will inform the Chief of Staff to the President. I will inform the Secretary to the Federal Government of the Federation. I will inform all the relevant agencies,” he said.

He said he would also draw the attention of the presidential aide responsible for CNG and electric bus initiatives to the project.

“I will inform the SA domestic to the president, which is also in charge of the CNG and electrical buses for the federation,” he said.

Ade-John further used the launch to encourage greater participation by Nigerian entrepreneurs in developing solutions to the country’s transportation challenges.

“And I’m calling, if a single man can do this with his personal resources, we don’t need investors from outside. You are a son of the soil,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the initiative would attract the attention of President Bola Tinubu because of its alignment with the administration’s transportation objectives.

“I am very confident that Mr. President will be very, very happy with this initiative because this is the line of what he’s trying to do,” Ade-John said.

He added that the Federal Government was pursuing wider transportation interventions across the country.

Speaking on the rationale behind ProTaxi, Oloche said Promiseland Innovation was seeking to use technology and transportation services to address economic and livelihood challenges.

“That question is at the heart of why Promiseland Innovation was born,” Oloche said.

He said the organisation’s approach was based on the belief that access to appropriate tools and opportunities could influence people’s economic circumstances.

“We believe that circumstances should not determine destiny.

“We believe that when you give people the right tools, the right opportunities, and the right environment, their lives could be transformed,” he said.

Oloche said ProTaxi was designed as an e-hailing platform with an emphasis on electric mobility and employment opportunities.

“Today, we introduce a ProTaxi that is not just another e-hailing application. It is a platform that creates opportunity and changes destiny,” he said.

He said the platform’s economic impact would extend beyond drivers to the households that depend on their earnings.

“Every time a passenger takes a ProTaxi ride, there is a driver behind the wheel.

“And behind the wheel, you have a driver with a family,” he said.

According to Oloche, earnings from driving could contribute to meeting household expenses such as education and housing.

“That is to say, for every ride that is booked, a child’s school fee is paid. A house rent is paid.

“And a dream is fulfilled for a better future to be built,” he said.

He said the company intended to create opportunities for a large number of drivers, arguing that employment generated through the platform could have wider socioeconomic effects.

“We believe that when we create opportunities for thousands of drivers, we are not watching families, but we are reshaping communities,” Oloche said.

Oloche said the company’s ambitions extended beyond the Nigerian market, with plans to develop an African technology company capable of competing internationally.

“Our mission is to build an African technology company that will transform everyday living and eventually compete with the best in the world,” he said.

He said the ProTaxi rollout formed part of the company’s broader strategy of applying technology to economic and social challenges.

“The future is not what you wait for. The future is what you work towards every day,” he said.

Oloche added that ProTaxi was intended to provide Nigerians with another transportation option while creating income opportunities for participating drivers.

“ProTaxi to me is yet another vision being fulfilled, a vision to provide opportunity for families to earn, to provide opportunity to families to be able to earn a living,” he said.

He said the initiative was expected to create opportunities for thousands of families as the platform expands.

Also speaking, Gift Emmanuel, Executive Director, Promiseland Estate, said the project was focused on expanding access to transportation and economic opportunities.

“The vision is to help the masses. And, at least, he’s here in Abuja now, and we are moving to other states to help other people too,” she said.