The Senate Committee on the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) praised the Agency for spearheading the development of local content, particularly in Solar-Powered smart irrigation, tricycles, electric motorbikes, and other areas with expedited technology transfer.
Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on NASENI, along with fellow Committee members, conducted an oversight visit to NASENI Headquarters in Abuja on Monday, February 26, 2024. During the visit, they were led by Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI, who showcased various NASENI products and facilities.
The Committee inspected a range of products, including animal feed processing machines, NASENI transformers, electric motorcycles and tricycles, as well as home and irrigation solar systems developed by NASENI. Senator Onyewuchi expressed his satisfaction with the progress and innovation demonstrated by NASENI during the visit.
“The committee is quite pleased with the level of progress and we want to assure NASENI of the support of the National Assembly to make sure that agency drives effectively the vision of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in this area and I want to also thank them for making Nigeria go green, moving from fuel to non-fossil products, it is quite commendable. We are quite pleased and we want to encourage them to do more,” Senator Onyewuchi stated.
According to individual committee members who offered separate remarks, the implementation of NASENI home solar systems and electric bikes is poised to invigorate local businesses and bolster the country’s economy. They emphasized that widespread production of NASENI solar systems could address power challenges in both urban and rural areas.
Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, the EVC/CEO of NASENI, announced that certain NASENI products will be available by the second quarter of the current year. Additionally, he highlighted the Agency’s initiative to establish a Technology Transfer Hub at its headquarters. This hub aims to facilitate accessibility to eco-friendly technologies, ensuring affordability over both short and long terms.
“We promised Nigerians that by the first quarter of this year, they are going to be seeing NASENI products and today, you have witnessed three products-the solar irrigation system, which is like a generator, but completely solar and batteries and the second one is our electronic motorcycle and tricycle (Keke) and the last one being the solar home system where you can power your entire house off-grid,” Halilu said.
“You will soon start seeing NASENI branded products in our efforts to build a national brand for the country and of course, if you are doing commercial viable products, they have to be affordable to the common man and very soon, you will start seeing them in the market,” he added.
Other legislators who participated in the journey included Senator Aminu Iya Abbas, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology; Senator Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo, Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on NASENI; Senator David Jimkura, Member of the Senate Committee on NASENI; Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on NASENI; Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, Member of the Senate Committee on NASENI; and Senator Abdullaziz Musa Yar’Adua.
