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Nigeria Manufactures the First Motorcycle

It's called M1, but this bike is not the M1 Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo ride: it's the NASENI M1, the very first motorcycle manufactured in Nigeria.
Nigeria Manufactures the First Motorcycle 2 photos
Photo: Leadership.ng
Naseni M1, the first Nigerian motorcycle
NASENI stands for the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, the developer and manufacturer of the vehicle. Yes, the Nigerian M1 is a national achievement backed by state funding, and proving that the country is willing to make serious efforts in the attempt to revive the rather comatose economy.

The M1 is an 80cc scooter, and NASENI Executive Vice Chairman Dr. Muhammad Sani Haruna says it is a 100% Nigerian vehicle. We really doubt the design and all the engineering is that original, and would rather vouch the M1 is a copy of other similar vehicles.

While this has happened a lot of times in such markets, we're willing go skip this matter. What's really funny is NASENI's claim that the Nigerian government should ban the import of all foreign motorcycles, in order to protect the local bike industry.

“About 20 million Nigerians today rely on motorcycles as a means of transport and many unemployed youths and men support their families or earn a living from running motorcycle as a commercial venture.

Imagine the large number of jobs that will be created if only Nigeria could close her borders against the importation of motorcycles and allow entrepreneurs to invest in the manufacturing of the parts including production of the motorcycle locally," Haruna told local press outlet Leadership. Speechless.
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