By Daniel Peters
Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, is set to give more than 100 locally assembled electric vehicles to her constituents.
The move, targeted mainly for women, farmers, and small business owners, is part of her annual empowerment program—a gesture she fondly calls her “ritual” of giving back to her people.
This initiative, which blends social empowerment with environmental innovation, has already attracted national attention. It highlighted the growing wave of support for Made-in-Nigeria technology and underscores the Senator’s reputation for pushing fresh, practical ideas that directly impact lives of her people.
According to Udensi Bernard, whose engineering team has been collaborating with the Senator, the project began with an unexpected visit from Senator Natasha two weeks ago, describing the moment as both surprising and inspiring.
The program is expected to be officially unveiled soon, but even before the launch, excitement is spreading across Kogi Central.
The cars—compact, energy-efficient, and ideal for Nigeria’s local terrain, are designed to reduce fuel dependence while promoting renewable energy use.
For Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, the vision is to create a model where Nigerian-made innovations solve Nigerian problems.
According to the Aides, the Senator has been personally involved in testing and inspecting the electric vehicles, ensuring that every car meets safety, performance, and reliability standards suitable for rural and urban roads alike.
The beneficiaries of this initiative include women traders, farmers, and local transport operators. For many of them, mobility remains a major barrier to income growth. These vehicles could change that.
In a community like Kogi Central, where most economic activities depend on movement and trade, access to reliable transport could spark what observers called a “mini-economic revolution.”
But, there’s more to the project than empowerment and transport. It represents a growing awareness of Nigeria’s place in the global shift toward renewable energy. The Senator’s team equally said, her intention is to use the project to educate young people about sustainable innovation and clean energy
The vehicles are equipped with charging systems adaptable to both home and solar setups—a key step toward off-grid energy independence.
Since returning from her six-month suspension, Senator Natasha appears to have resumed duty with renewed energy and focus. Political observers say her latest move signals her intent to reconnect back with her constituents through projects that create real impact.
The Senator has a lengthy history of encouraging women to take on leadership positions and engage in community-oriented initiatives.
As Nigeria struggles with fuel costs and environmental challenges, electric vehicles could hold the key to a new industrial direction. What makes Senator Natasha’s approach different is her insistence that local engineers and assemblers take the lead.
