The Presidency has commended the Chief Executive Officer of Promiseland Innovation, Amb. Emmanuel Lawrence Oloche, over the rollout of 1,000 electric vehicles through the ProTaxi e-hailing platform in Abuja.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Transportation and Mobility, Prince Adetokunbo Ademola Ade-John, gave the commendation at the official launch of ProTaxi in Abuja on Thursday.
Ade-John described the initiative as a practical demonstration of the federal government’s transportation agenda, saying it showed how private investment could contribute to the development of Nigeria’s mobility sector.
“Fine. We have the new Hope Agenda mission. But this has really shown and practically exuded our mission,” he said.
He noted that the federal government was already pursuing the deployment of electric buses and CNG-powered vehicles, adding that the ProTaxi initiative demonstrated the practical implementation of the administration’s transportation objectives.
“In line with this agenda, there is ongoing distribution of electrical buses, CNG. But this alone has shown that, 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 Oloche for investing personal resources in the initiative and urged him to sustain the project.
“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 said the initiative could also serve as a legacy for future generations.
“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 described the rollout of the electric vehicles as a practical initiative rather than merely a government policy statement.
“Fine, we have initiative, but this is purely practical. I see some of these buses, and some of these taxis displayed,” Ade-John said.
The presidential aide disclosed that he would present the ProTaxi initiative to key officials of the federal government.
“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.
Ade-John also said he would engage the presidential aide responsible for CNG and electric buses.
“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.
He used the initiative to encourage Nigerians to invest in local solutions, stressing that the project was developed with local resources.
“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.
Ade-John expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would appreciate the initiative, saying it was consistent 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,” he said.
He added that the federal government had plans for massive deployment of transportation solutions across the country.
Speaking at the launch, Oloche said the idea behind ProTaxi was rooted in Promiseland Innovation’s broader vision of using innovation and technology to move ordinary people from poverty to prosperity.
“That question is at the heart of why Promiseland Innovation was born,” Oloche said.
He said the organisation believed that people’s circumstances should not determine their destiny, adding that providing the right tools, opportunities and environment could transform lives.
“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.
Introducing ProTaxi, Oloche said the platform was not simply another e-hailing application but an initiative designed to create opportunities and change lives.
“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.
According to him, every ProTaxi ride involves a driver whose livelihood supports a family.
“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.
Oloche said the income generated by drivers could help families meet basic needs, including children’s school fees and house rent.
“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’s objective was to create opportunities for thousands of drivers, arguing that the impact would extend beyond individual drivers to their families and communities.
“We believe that when we create opportunities for thousands of drivers, we are not watching families, but we are reshaping communities,” Oloche said.
He said the vision extended beyond Nigeria, as Promiseland Innovation sought to build an African technology company capable of transforming everyday living and competing globally.
“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.
Oloche described the launch as part of the company’s broader vision of using innovation and technology to create opportunities and improve livelihoods.
“The future is not what you wait for. The future is what you work towards every day,” he said.
He said ProTaxi was intended to provide an affordable alternative for Nigerians travelling from one point to another through electric mobility.
Oloche described the initiative as another vision being fulfilled, particularly in creating opportunities for families to earn a living.
“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 added that the initiative would create opportunities for thousands of families.
Also speaking, the Executive Director, Promiseland Estate, Gift Emmanuel, said the vision behind the initiative was to help the masses.
She said the company had commenced operations in Abuja and planned to expand to other states.
“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.
