Buhari Appoints Chevrolet Volt Designer Jelani Aliyu to Head Nigeria’s Automotive Council, 22 Others

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday confirmed the appointment of world-famous Jelani Aliyu reputed to be the designer of the Chevrolet Volt as the director-general of the Nigerian Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC).

Jelani Aliyu currently works with popular vehicle manufacturer, General Motors (GM) where he has worked since 1997.

Aliyu’s invention, the Chevrolet Volt, a battery-powered, extended range passenger vehicle was in the past described as GM’s “most electrifying advanced technologically advanced vehicle.”

Jelani Aliyu has picked up many awards for his invention and in January 2014, the United States Environmental Protection Agency voted the Chevrolet Volt as the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the market.

As DG of the NADDC, Jelani Aliyu will be responsible for the review and implementation of Nigeria’s automotive industry development policy. A previous policy covering the period from 2013 to 2015 appeared to have laid the foundation for the growth of local vehicle assembly plants in the country.

An indigenous vehicle manufacturer, Innoson Motors is believed to be one of many testaments to the automotive policy about which not much has been said in recent times.

As exciting as it appears to have Mr Jelani Aliyu head the Nigerian automotive council, it remains to be seen if he would be eager to leave his position at GM for the quite uncertain terrain of a Nigerian agency where decision making is bound to be affected by political interests.

Recently, Professor Akintunde Akinwande of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) carefully avoided his nomination to head the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Council (NERC), the apex regulatory body in Nigeria’s quite troubled power sector.

Prof Akinwande initially cited government’s failure to consult with him before announcing his name but subsequently failed to appear for a rescheduled screening exercise at the senate.

The position of the chairman of the NERC remains vacant and the vice-chairman has been acting in the capacity of chairman.

Also appointed on Thursday was Mr Babatunde Irukera, a former partner at Simmons Cooper Partners (SCP), a top law firm in Lagos where Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was also a founding partner until May 2015.

Mr Irukera is to serve as the executive secretary of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) where he is expected to bring his many years of law practice to bear.

Source: The Nation