Even though the latest private member bill sent in to the National Assembly by Bayelsa State Senator, Mr Ben Murray-Bruce on the adoption of electric cars over petrol vehicles suffered instant rejection; strong indication has emerged on the possibility of manufacturing electric cars in Nigeria very soon.
Otherwise, the Cross River Government weekend concluded plans with a Slovakian firm, Sirieco, to establish electric car assembling plant and energy saving bulbs at the emerging Ayade Industrial Park in Calabar, the state capital.
Giving insights of what his company has in stock for Nigeria, the Chief Executive Officer of the Slovakian group, Sirieco Company Limited, Mr Groidis Peter, said apart from the electric car plant, the Slovakian firm will also establish a factory to manufacture energy bulbs in the state. Peter noted that “After a useful deliberation with the governor and tour of some of the projects here in this industrial park, I am glad to announce to you that we will love to build a strong working relationship with the Cross River State government which will culminate in the building of a hub that will be second to none in Africa.”
“We are starting with Eco-Cars; electric cars and we hope to set up the car assembling plant here in this park. We are also building a factory for the manufacturing of long-lasting street lamps.” Earlier in his remarks, the state governor, Prof Ben Ayade, disclosed that “The Ayade Industrial park has 42 plots of land ready for any serious investor who is willing to create jobs for at least 50 Cross Riverians from its investment outlay.
“We are offering free land, tax exemption and providing the necessary utility support services including free Wi-Fi,” Ayade assured.
Business Hilights recalls that the government of Ayade in the last four years had introduced policies that fast forwarded industrial revolution in the state which had opened vistas for manufacturing activities and deep pocket investments in several fields including garment, chalk production, rice farming, palm oil, syringe and allied hospital materials and others.
