Stallion Motors, Nigeria’s auto assembler and a franchisee of 9 global brands which includes Hyundai is planning to delve into Electric Vehicles (EV) manufacturing in Nigeria. This is coming after Jets Motor Company raised $9 million for EV technology in Nigeria, which it plans to unveil soon in partnership with GIG Motors and some other companies.

Hyundai-Kona is regarded as the best electric car products in Europe by European motoring journalists, and the Vice Chairman Haresh Vaswani sees Nigerian market as a potential as the company tries to extend its fight for cleaner energy beyond Europe. Nigeria is notorious for its use of combustible vehicles and appears unconcerned as the rest of the world pushes for cleaner energy.

But that is about to change as the two companies appear ready to change the narrative by introducing electric vehicles into the Nigerian auto space as soon as possible.

“Well-meaning and concerned people globally are urgently making moves to save our dear planet. After operating successfully in Nigeria for over five decades, the least our company could give back to the country and by extension, the world is to be a leading pilot in steering the nation to the direction of clean energy use and reduction of emission.

“Versatile and powerful, the Hyundai Kona Electric will be the first All-Electric SUV in Nigeria. Its power packed performance will provide a thrilling driving experience with high acceleration over long distances. Driving range for Kona Electric is 482 km with an acceleration of (0-100kms) in 9.7 secs.

“The ease of charging is unmatched, one can even plug it in at home or at work and charge it for 9.35 hours for a full battery capacity. Hyundai Kona comes with five years of battery warranty and five years of vehicle warranty. Kona Electric will change the way people think about going electric. It would make history as first EV to be launched in Nigeria with local manufacturing,” Vaswani said.

While many vehicle manufacturing companies are indicating interest in introducing electric vehicles into Nigerian market, the greatest challenge has been the attitude of the Nigerian government toward the development.

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives warned the Federal Government to be wary of the dangers of electric vehicles, which they said it has the capability of disrupting the economy. The Lower Chamber of the National Assembly said the implications of electric vehicles should be critically evaluated since it could reduce the demand for crude oil as the trend has shown in many other countries.

The motion, titled ‘Economic Implications of the Production and Adoption of Electric Vehicles on Nigeria’ was moved by Hon. Ossy prestige and was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers.

“The House notes with dismay, the bleak future for Nigeria’s oil exports as its biggest oil buyers and other major Asian and European customers are poised to do away with petrol and diesel-powered vehicles from year 2025.

“The House is informed that India, China, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom that bought a total of 24.4 million barrels of crude oil from Nigeria in May 2019, almost half of the nation’s total exports for the month, are now pushing ahead with plans to stop the use of oil-powered vehicles as part of efforts to reduce pollution and carbon emissions, a development that could spell trouble for Nigeria’s oil exports in the coming decades,” Prestige said.

According to him, the more countries embrace the trend, the more difficult Nigeria will find it to sell its oil.

The stance of the House of Representatives on EVs reveals why the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) bill is yet to be signed into law. The auto policy bill has been dragging feet on the excuse that so many parts of it need to be rectified.

But the Federal Government pledged to support the automotive industry not minding if companies are producing combustible or electric vehicles. It demonstrated commitment to the pledge in 2019 by assigning the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the University of Lagos, Usman Dan Fodio University and the Metallurgical Institute designs and tasked them to manufacture made-in Nigeria electric cars. The University of Nigeria Nsukka delivered an electric car made with 80% local content in less than a year, demonstrating the possibility of locally made EVs in Nigeria.

However, whilst it appears that the Federal Government is in full support of the automotive industry, the recent downturn in the oil market as a result of low demand and climate concerns seems to have instigated doubts in the minds of the lawmakers who have repeatedly opposed any bill that will promote electric vehicles.

But as it has been noted by ex-Senator, Ben Murray Bruce, who was forthright in pushing the rejected bill for electric vehicles in Nigeria; “the world will not wait on Nigeria to attain the cleaner energy goal, the way it’s going, Nigeria will be left behind, and will find it hard to catch up.”

On Wednesday, the Nigerian Senate, while deliberating on the issue of coronavirus in Nigeria, suggested that many measures should be taken by governments and health bodies in the country to reflect international best practices, in accordance with directives from the World Health Organization (WHO). Among the many suggestions given by the 9th Senate is that President Muhammadu Buhari needs to address the nation.

“Countries worldwide and big country like the United States of America is taking drastic measures to either contain or prevent coronavirus from entering their country. Even countries without incident are taking measures. Even African countries like Senegal, Rwanda, Ghana, South Africa and Kenya are taking serious measures to protect their countries.

“Even religious bodies are also taking steps. Countries like Saudi Arabia that has no single case of infection and even Kaaba which we all know as Muslims. Vatican has announced that we would celebrate Easter without a full congregation and I believe as a country, we should do something very drastic.

“This thing starts gradually. Like in the United States, it starts from one to two and as at this morning, it has extended to fifty states. Even though we think we don’t have the problem here, we have contacts in Lagos, it will not end there, it will go to Oyo, Sokoto, Borno, and other places.

“In view of this, Mr. President, I want this Chamber to urge President Muhammadu Buhari to address the nation on coronavirus. Other presidents have been doing that, even bigger countries like the United States of America,” remarked Senator Danjuma Goje.

Senate’s encouragement to the president to address the nation over coronavirus was received by Nigerians as slap in the face, not because the upper chamber of the National Assembly erred, but because it’s widely viewed as appalling that the president has to be urged to address the nation in time of global health crisis like this.

Worldwide, leaders have been on the podium week in week out, telling their citizens the plans and measures that the government has in store to remedy the situation, urging them to remain calm that the storm will surely pass.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled the country’s austerity measures with a touching address.

“No matter whom you are or what you do, right now you should be focused on your health – and not about whether you will lose your job or run out of money for things like groceries or medicine. So today, we announced our plan that will help you and your family.

“As COVID-19 continues to spread, we are taking every precaution to minimize the health, economic, and social impacts of the virus in Canada. And today, we announced a billion-dollar COVID-19 Response Fund to address the impacts of the virus in our country and to keep you safe.

“This fund will provide money to the provinces and territories to support our health care system. That’s more money for surgical masks, face shields, testing, and equipment they need to address the outbreak. It will also help fund vaccine development and support clinical trials,” said Trudeau.

The clamor for Buhari to address the nation has been on high volume even before the Senate added their voice. His inability to do so has been described as utter disregard for people he swore to serve, especially in trying time of pestilence.

“I strongly believe we need a state of the nation address. We need detailed information from relevant authorities as to the level of preparedness for the days ahead,” said Actress kate Henshaw. “I just left a major supermarket in Lekki and the buying of stuff is astronomical. Nigerians are worried.”

With the news of school closure and limited religious gathering in many states, Nigerians have been thrown into panic and restlessness, amidst the worrisome silence from the authorities. The increasing number of confirmed cases has also added to the worry that needs assurance from the Nigerian authorities, especially the president to be calmed.

But in a surprising response on Thursday, the 36 state governors who made up the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), said on Thursday that Buhari does not need to address the nation on coronavirus outbreak. The governors said that the Presidential Taskforce and the updates from the Ministries of Health is enough.

“On the addressing of the nation on COVID-19, every day, I notice that we receive an address. There is a COVID-19 taskforce that has been put together by President Muhammadu Buhari, and the taskforce addresses the country on almost a daily basis.

“We see the honorable minister of health; we see the Secretary to the State Government of the Federation that briefs the nation. What the nation needs is information that is regularly delivered in order to keep the citizens well informed about steps to take,” the governors said.

The presidency also rebuked the Senate for calling on Buhari to address the nation. In a statement issued by presidential spokesman,  Garba Shehu, on Thursday, he described it as cheap politics.

“In this regard, populist advocacies such as the one accusing the President of ‘complacency’ simply because he has not made a television address by ranking members of our respected parliament are cheap and sensational. These are not the times for populism and cheap politics.”

These statements attracted unprecedented backlash from Nigerians, who say that other countries like Ghana, South Africa and Zimbabwe that their presidents have addressed put even more measures in place than Nigeria, and they also have kept their countries informed about every necessary step the governments are taking.

On Monday, Buhari set up a 12-man taskforce and saddle them with the responsibility to oversee and forestall modalities that will ensure that the outbreak is contained. Upon the inauguration of the taskforce, it is believed that Buhari has exempted himself from the task of oversight and decision making on matters of COVID-19, and that has become unacceptable to Nigerians.