Frustrating the sale of electric cars: The Ekweremadu thought process

"In economic sense, we're an oil-producing country. So we should do everything possible to frustrate the sale of electric cars in Nigeria to enable us sell our oil." - Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Senate President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.  


The above statement was a reaction to a bill proposed by Senator Ben Murray-Bruce to Nigeria's upper legislative house. The bill was one that sought to enforce the use of electric cars as a replacement to the unhealthy and environmentally-unfriendly petrol cars. This bill was shot down by several senators even before it could learn how to fly. Notable among them was one of Nigeria's most powerful government officials, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu. He holds a Bachelor's, Master's and Ph.D in Law from two Nigerian universities and has occupied sensitive government positions in the past few decades. The allegedly learned 56-year old made a poor case when he proposed to his fellow senators that Nigeria, being an oil-producing nation, should frustrate the sale of electric cars to enable us sell our oil, which begs many questions. 

1. With the current state of climate change and environmental degradation, the sale of oil or the sale of electric cars... which is more important and beneficial to a country with countless other resources? 

2. Since the discovery of oil in Nigeria and the subsequent sale of it, what have been the positive impacts on the lives of her citizens? 

3. How exactly does the sale of electric cars negatively affect a country that spends so much on subsidy and purchase of petroleum products that are used in powering environmentally-unfriendly machines? 

4. Despite the high expense of these cars, are they more expensive than our lives and environment? 

5. Does Senator Ekweremadu listen to the news or keep in touch with current world happenings? 

6. How globally competitive are Nigeria-trained graduates and postgraduates? 

In 2017, the then 39-year old President of France, Emmanuel Macron, who holds a Master's in Public Policy and another in Philosophy, stated that France will ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2040. The young man had, and still has, a clear-cut vision of progress for his country. Here, in 2019, a 56-year old third-term serving Senator proposed the frustration of the sale of electric cars which are currently one of the world's latest efforts to promote a safe and healthy environment. You tend to wonder, 'in which direction is Nigeria headed? Backward or forward?' Are we returning to the Stone Age or joining the Digital Age? In the 21st century, a nation with abundant natural and human resources like Nigeria generates only 7,000MW of power and distributes far less. Why? Perhaps, just maybe, there are certain individuals who are bent on 'frustrating' the optimal generation and distribution of power in Nigeria? I live in a community with so much wind and constantly blazing heat from the sun, but there is absolutely no solar or wind-generated power anywhere around. Deliberate frustration? I have seen local scientists come up with ingenious technology including generators that generate power from waste and even water. But surprisingly, these inventions die away from public attention after they are announced. Deliberate frustration again? There are so many fuel and diesel-consuming generators in Nigeria, spewing out poisonous fumes into the atmosphere and making more noise than cannons in the medieval era of the Black Prince, but there are abundant and simple means by which they can be phased out. Nigeria has sunlight all year round, so many water bodies, so much wind and great amounts of waste. All these can generate safe, health and environmentally-friendly power for the populace. And with the sale of electric cars, pollution from combustion engines will be almost over, jobs will be available for skilled individuals, spending on subsidy and purchase of petroleum products will be vastly reduced, and producers and users of other machines that depend on petroleum products will be inspired to seek safer and alternative means. 

The benefits are great, so why did Nigerian senators led by the Deputy Senate President shoot down Sen. Murray-Bruce's bill? What do they stand to gain from 'frustrating' his efforts to make Nigeria move with the rest of the world? Are they producers of diesel or petrol cars? What are their alternatives to Murray-Bruce's idea? If... when the rest of the world starts using electric cars, who will we sell our precious oil to, assuming we still have any of it by then? Should we be thinking of continuing to sell the increasingly unpopular oil or should we intensify efforts to actually diversify and keep our environment safe?  
God help Nigeria!