FG inaugurates solar-powered electric vehicle charging station in Enugu

FG inaugurates solar-powered electric vehicle charging station in Enugu

The Federal Government has inaugurated a solar-powered electric vehicle charging station at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State.

Director General, National Automative Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. Jelani Aliyu, said the idea was to deepen technological advancement in Nigeria’s automotive industry.

He was represented at the event held on Friday by the Director, Infrastructure at the council, Olarawaju Omisanya.

He stated with the effects of global warming and climate change on the environment, many countries are now moving away from fossil fuel vehicles to electric vehicles

“This informs the reason the 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 per cent carbon emission in our environment as well as reduce health problems associated with it,” he said.

The DG explained that Usman Danfodo University, Sokoto, University of Lagos and UNN are three universities selected for the pilot project of solar powered charging electric vehicle stations.

“The Usman Danfodo University, Sokoto and University of Lagos were inaugurated in 2021. NADDC encourages universities in the country to utilise this opportunity by stimulating further research and development of this project,” he said.

He commended the Vice-Chancellor of UNN, Prof. Charles Igwe, and the management for their maximum cooperation to see that the project was completed and inaugurated.

In his remarks, Igwe expressed appreciation to the NADDC for choosing the UNN as one of the pilot universities for the project.

He promised that the university would continue to do its best and challenged the institution’s Faculty of Engineering to ensure the conversion of vehicles in the university to electric vehicles.

The UNN Coordinator of the project, Prof. Ozomena Ani, thanked the vice chancellor for approving the project and allowing him to coordinate the project in the university.