Stallion Group leads with Hyundau Kona Electric Vehicle Over Energy Costs, Environmental Impact

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Stallion Motors Nigeria has reaffirmed its leadership in the Nigerian automobile industry with the commendation of the company’s Hyundai Kona EV, Nigeria’s first locally produced electric vehicle by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Produced from its Lagos plant, the Hyundai Kona EV is projected to be the toast of Nigerian automobile enthusiasts and corporate organisations given the advantages it brings on energy costs, environmental friendliness and overall rest of mind.

The company showcased the first locally produced electric vehicle at the Thursday meeting of the National Economic Council, NEC with Vice President Kashim Shettima saying that the prospects for electric vehicles in Nigeria as being bright.

Vice President Shettima test drove the vehicle in the company of the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, NADDC, Jelani Aliyu.

The Hyundai Kona first introduced in Lagos, Nigeria in 2020 is sold with 5 years of battery warranty and 5 years of vehicle warranty.

The battery-pack on full charge allows the Hyundai Kona to drive 482 km (300 miles) approximating travel from Lagos to Awka, Anambra State or from Kano to Sokoto. The battery can be recharged at home or in the office.

Speaking after the endorsement of the NEC, the Managing Director of VON Automobiles, Stallion’s auto assembly unit, Dr Harpreet Singh, explained that the innovation from the company was a step towards an eco- friendly green Nigeria.

According to him, “The Stallion Group is in full support of the moves by the government of Nigeria towards a clean environment.

“We have brought the Hyundai Kona EV as our support towards this initiative that would not only enhance our environment but also bring economic advantage to the market for those who also consider energy costs”, he said.

Dr Singh promised that the sale of the Hyundai Kona EV is backed with the company’s comprehensive after sales service.

By Christiana Ekpa

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas (PhD) has assured that the 10th House of Representatives would work for all Nigerians.

He said the overwhelming mandate given to him by his colleagues would spur him to work assiduously with every member to achieve a Nigeria that every citizen desires.

Speaker Abbas was speaking over the weekend in Abuja when he led a delegation of members,

CSOs float platform to deepen legislative engagement, accountability in Kaduna

Some members of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and development partners, have established a platform, tagged “Civil Society-Legislature Engagement and Accountability Platform (CLEAP)”, to deepen legislative engagement and accountability in Kaduna State.

A founding member, Mr Yusuf Goje of the Coalition of Association for Leadership, Peace, Empowerment and Development (CALPED), made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Kaduna.

Goje described CLEAP as a “multi-stakeholder platform of civil society and legislators, championing reform initiatives for a more open, transparent, accountable, and responsive Kaduna State House of Assembly”.

He explained that the platform drew inspiration from the Memorandum on Parliamentary Engagement adopted by the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Steering Committee in 2021.

According to him, the platform seeks to promote OGP principles and practices in the legislative processes, to enable more openness and effective citizens’ participation and engagement.

Goje added that the CLEAP would serve as a platform for dialogue and partnership between the legislature and civil society for effective horizontal and diagonal accountability.

He stressed that the platform would increase interaction between legislators and constituents to strengthen the legislative process and deepen the culture of open governance through law-making, oversight and evaluation.

“This is crucial because, the legislative arm of government is at the heart of democracy being the institution of government that gives meaning to the government of the people, by the people and for the people.

“It is also worthy of note that good governance can only be actualised when we have an effective legislature.(NAN)