Two Promises For 2030: Uber Pledges To Go All Electric In Cab Hailing Services, As Buhari Projects 20%-30% Emission Reduction
The Oasis Reporters
November 5, 2020
Whatever path a people or nation chooses, emanates from their inalienable rights as free citizens of any community. But what is not so free remains the consequences emanating therefrom.
Ride hailing services, Uber in a recent report has announced that by year 2030 ( 8 or 9 years from now), all their rides would go electric.
Renewable Energy Duty Tax
On the other side of the globe far from America where the grand and futuristic plans are going on, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has promised both the UN General Assembly and World Bank that Nigeria is fully committed to a 20%-30% emission reduction by 2030, – which is Nigeria’s adopted National Adaptation Strategy and Plan of Action on Climate Change in 2011.
The irony is that as Buhari goes from one international podium and limelights to the other, preaching that his administration is going to increase solar energy capacity by 300%, his government is taxing Nigerians importing solar components 10% duty tax. A textbook example of speaking from both sides of the mouth.
With the looming environmental shocks, increase in natural disasters, the risk of a terrorist group or a rogue state’s cyberattack on the electric grid- countries across the globe are paying their citizens to buy Smart Energy Storage System (ESS) to store solar energy, that can be used as a backup UPS.
Example Germany,
In southern Germany today, the state will provide €500 (US$550) for a storage system of at least 3kWh and a further €100 (US$110) for each additional 1kWh up to a maximum of €3200 (US$3530). The storage system must be paired with a solar installation. All EU states and the UK are doing the same or plan to do so soon.
Nigeria’s case
On one side, we had 4,860 hours of power outages 9blackouts) out of 8,760 hours in the year 2018 and NERC generated and distributed 7,800 MW 2018.
On the other hand, the citizens consumed 40,000 MW in 2018. The 32,000 MW was generated by an estimated 42 million small and large generators in the residential sector and the estimated 7 million large generators in operation in the business sector.
Fuel Tankers Accidents & Wildfire.
The LINK between the 32,000 MW we generate from diesel generators and the falling fuel tanks in a hurry to meet demands is discernible even to a child, except in the brains of our leaders, elites, faith groups, and the general public whose plans and intentions don’t seem like they do.
African Leaders With Vision
Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda are among the African countries that have scaled up renewable energy adoption with the implementation of import waivers for Renewable Energy products including accessories and deep cycle batteries. Kenya is already witnessing an almost 50% reduction in the price of solar-PV systems, making them increasingly affordable, especially for rural consumers.
What common sense dictates
A government has so many responsibilities, thus, needs tax revenues to solve those problems – but if taxing will lead to more social problems and less tax revenue in the future – common sense dictates, that an immediate tax waiver will yield triple more tax revenue in the near future.
Maths on the Back of an Envelope
All the tax APC has levied since 2015 and the planned increase of VAT tax and Tollgates, combined will generate less revenue than the income taxes from the estimated 7 million Nigerians that have lost their job since 2015.
By Cade Agbugba
With Greg Abolo
