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.