The Nigerian Government on Friday inaugurated an electric vehicle charging station at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) in Enugu State, southeast Nigeria.
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| EV station, Nsukka |
The solar-powered charging station, the Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr Jelani Aliyu, said will reduce the use of fossil fuel vehicles that pollute the environment and contribute to global warming.
Aliyu said that the council was committed to technological advancement in the Nigerian automotive industry.
Noting the importance of the electric vehicle, the DG NADDC said that “global warming and climate are detrimental to human health and pollute our environment," adding that "many countries are moving away from fossil fuel vehicles to electric vehicles because of its adverse effects".
According to him, this "informed the reason why NADDC, an agency in the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment is sponsored by the government to build electric vehicle charging stations powered by solar across the country".
“The aim is to ensure zero percent carbon emission in our environment as well as reduce health problems associated with it,” he said.
Represented by Mr Olarawaju Omusanya, the Director of Infrastructures in NADDC, Aliyu, stated that three universities namely - Usman Danfodo University, Sokoto, University of Lagos, and University of Nigeria, Nsukka were selected for the pilot projects.
“The Usman Danfodo University Sokoto and University of Lagos were inaugurated in 2021 and today August 17, 2023, we are inaugurating the University of Nigeria Nsukka own.
“NADDC encourages universities in the country to utilise this opportunity by stimulating further research and development of this project,” he said.
The DG said that the council would continue to promote advanced technology transfer and the development of domesticated human capital.
“It’s expected that the solar-powered charging station will offer staff and students first-hand experience in mobility and power renewable technology.
“Electric vehicle fully charged in this station will travel 480 kilometres before it will stop.
Globally there is an ongoing transition from petrol, diesel vehicles to electric vehicles,” he said.
He commended Prof. Charles Igwe, the Vice-Chancellor of UNN and the management for their maximum cooperation to see that the project was completed and inaugurated.
In a remark, Igwe expressed appreciation to NADDC for choosing UNN as one of the pilot universities in the country for the project.
The vice chancellor said that UNN would continue to do its best to stand out.
He urged the faculty of engineering of the university to ensure that many of the vehicles in the university were converted to electric vehicles now there’s a charging station in the school.
“Now there’s solar-powered charging electric vehicles station, our engineers in the university should take the advantage to convert our vehicles to electric, to reduce the cost of buying petrol and diesel for them.
“UNN is grateful to the government for choosing UNN as one of the pilot universities in this landmark project," Igwe said.
Earlier in his remark, Prof. Ozomena Ani, the UNN Coordinator of the project commended the vice chancellor for approving the project as well as allowing him to coordinate the project in the university.
Ani, an engineer and lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, UNN, said that his research team would ensure the maintenance of the project.
Also in his remarks, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Prof Emenike Ejiogu, who was represented by Associate Prof. Sunday Ezeoha said the faculty would continue to provide the required manpower in engineering.
“The faculty is happy that NADDC solar power charging electric station is located in our faculty, the faculty will ensure that the university community and outsiders reap the benefits of the project," Ejiogu said.
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