President Bola Tinubu has, once again, urged Nigerians to continue to endure the hardship and pains his reforms and policies have inflicted on them, as his administration is working diligently to ease the pains as quickly as possible.

Tinubu, who gave the assurance at the 48th convocation ceremony of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Saturday, emphasised that his government would ensure that the country benefited every citizen by correcting the mistakes made by past administrations, promising not to engage in blame games, but commit to improving the country through his economic reforms.

The President who was represented at the event by the Special Adviser on Economy, Office of the Vice President, Tope Fasua, acknowledged that he is aware of the harsh economic situation of the country, and begged Nigerians to endure what he described as unintentional hardship, adding that he does not take pleasure in inflicting pains on Nigerians but assured there was light at the end of the tunnel as his reform policies were aimed at making Nigeria works for everyone.

“Fellow Nigerians, I am not unaware of the harsh economic situation of our country neither do I take pleasure in inflicting pains and anguish on my compatriots,” the President said in his keynote address at the convocation.

“However, we were faced with the stark reality of the results of some policies hitherto executed by past administrations but which had no direct positive impact on the generality of our people.

“Our reform policies are aimed at making Nigeria work for everyone, but the pains that come with the reform must be endured in the meantime.

“We have gladly accepted the assets and liability of our heroes’ past without any intention of apportioning blame or pointing an accusing finger at any individual or group of people.

“As we are trying to fix, reconfigure, and correct past mistakes and errors, we implore all Nigerians to cooperate with us, to endure this unintentional hardship so that; like the graduates of today, we all can celebrate and be celebrated at the end of the day. I am certainly seeing the light at the end of our tunnel.”

The Zambian government has announced waivers on all taxes, except Value Added Tax (VAT), on Electric Vehicles (EVs), in a bid to encourage their adoption and boost the country’s green economy.

Commerce, Trade, and Industry Minister, Chipoka Mulenga, who made the announcement, added that VAT was also waived for locally manufactured EVs, which is another policy shift aimed to promote sustainable industrialization.

Mulenga who disclosed this during a “High-Level Policy Dialogue on Automotive and E-Mobility Regional Value Chains”, held at Intercontinental Hotel, Lusaka, stated that the measures will be a collaboration with civil society groups like the Zambian Electric Mobility Innovation Alliance (ZEMIA) and the private sector.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Crusivia Hichikumba, the Minister said the government has also pledged to ensure that at least 50 percent of its fleet comprises electric vehicles.

“We are eager to collaborate with other nations, including Botswana, DRC, Malawi, Morocco, Namibia, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and others, to actualise Africa’s potential as a powerhouse for value addition through e-mobility solutions,” Mulenga stated.

He highlighted Zambia’s rich endowment of critical minerals including copper, lithium, cobalt, manganese, and nickel, which are essential for EV battery production.

While speaking at the event,
UNECA’s Subregional Office for Southern Africa Director, Eunice Kamwendo, represented by Chief of Inclusive Industrialization, Olayinka Bandele, emphasized the alignment of Africa’s industrialization agenda with the global energy transition.

Kamwendo lauded UNECA’s initiatives, including regional EV value chains between the DRC, Morocco, and Zambia, and a special economic zone for BEVs in partnership with African Export-Import Bank (Afrieximbank).

“These initiatives aim to position Africa as a key player in the global automotive and electric battery industry,” Kamwendo noted, adding that collaborative efforts under AfCFTA could significantly boost intra-African trade in automotive components.

UNECA Director Adam Elhiraika echoed these sentiments, underscoring the need for policy harmonization, regional financing, and innovation to enhance Africa’s competitiveness in the global e-mobility sector.