18th August, 2023
By Hilary Akalugwu
The Federal Government has inaugurated a solar-powered electric vehicle charging station at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
Mr Jelani Aliyu, the Director-General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) on Friday at the inauguration, said the organisation was committed to technological advancement in the automotive industry.
Aliyu said this would reduce the use of fossil fuel vehicles that pollute the environment and contributes to global warming.
“Global warming and climate change are detrimental to human health and pollute our environment, many countries are moving away from fossil fuels vehicles to electric vehicles because of its adverse effects.
“This informs the reason why NADDC, an agency in the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment is sponsored by government to build electric vehicle charging stations powered by solar across the country.
“This is to ensure zero per cent carbon emission in our environment as well as reduce health problems associated with it,’’ he said.
Aliyu, represented by Mr Olarawaju Omusanya, the Director of Infrastructures in NADDC, said Usman Danfodo University, Sokoto; University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) were the three universities selected for the pilot project.
“The Usman Danfodo University Sokoto and University of Lagos were inaugurated in 2021 and today, we are inaugurating that of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
“The automotive council encourages universities in the country to utilise this opportunity by stimulating further research and development for this project,’’ he said.
The director-general said the council would continue to promote advanced technology transfer and development of domesticated human capital.