Pastor Chris’ Electric Cars Spark Debate as Nigerians Question Church, Cost and Innovation

• Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has unveiled three electric vehicle series — Falcon, Passion and OG — sparking a heated debate among Nigerians online.

• Supporters praised the move as an example of churches contributing to innovation, while critics questioned the cars’ affordability, branding and the wealth of religious organisations.

• Some netizens also revisited Oyakhilome’s previous public comments on technology, while others urged critics to judge the electric vehicle venture on its own merits.

August 19, () — Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, founder and president of Christ Embassy, has unveiled a new range of electric vehicles, triggering mixed reactions among Nigerians on social media.

The vehicles, named the Falcon, Passion and OG series, have drawn praise from supporters who see the development as an example of innovation and criticism from those questioning the project’s affordability, branding and the involvement of a prominent religious organisation in commercial ventures.

The unveiling has also renewed conversations about the role of churches in business and whether wealthy religious organisations should channel their resources into industries beyond worship centres.

Supporters See Innovation, Critics Question the Motive

Some Nigerians welcomed the development, arguing that churches have previously been criticised for accumulating wealth without creating industries or businesses that contribute to the wider economy.

One commenter argued that people had demanded that churches create industries, only to “shift the goalposts” when an innovation emerged.

Another praised Oyakhilome as a refined leader and described the initiative as a contribution towards making Nigeria better.

However, others were less enthusiastic, with affordability emerging as one of the immediate concerns.

One commenter said they welcomed the vehicles but hoped they would be “cheap and available in Nigeria”, highlighting the wider challenge facing electric vehicle adoption in the country.

The cost of electric vehicles, charging infrastructure and access to financing remain important considerations for Nigerian consumers. The commercial success of the new vehicles could therefore depend on more than the excitement surrounding their unveiling

From Car Names to 5G Controversy

The vehicles’ branding also became a source of online banter.

Some commenters questioned names such as “OG series of God” and “Zion Falcon”. In contrast, others jokingly suggested that church members could eventually be encouraged to acquire the vehicles as a form of “seed”.

Another commenter sarcastically suggested that the vehicles should be named “Our Money” or “We the Sower”, using the announcement to make a broader point about the financial strength of churches in Nigeria.

The electric vehicle unveiling also prompted some social media users to revisit previous controversies surrounding Oyakhilome’s public comments about emerging technology, particularly 5G.

One commenter questioned what they described as an apparent contradiction between earlier concerns attributed to the pastor about 5G technology and the use of modern telecommunications technology in the church and products associated with the new vehicles.

Such comments, however, represent individual reactions online and should not be treated as facts without verification of the specific statements and technologies involved.

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Questions Over Local Production and the Bigger Picture

Another group of commenters questioned whether the vehicles are genuinely manufactured in Nigeria or involve Chinese electric vehicles being assembled locally.

That claim would require confirmation, particularly because local assembly and local manufacturing have different implications for Nigeria’s automotive industry.

Beyond the vehicles themselves, the reaction reflects a broader debate over the role of Nigeria’s large religious organisations in the economy.

Supporters see the project as an opportunity for churches to contribute to innovation, manufacturing and employment, while critics remain sceptical about the intersection of religious influence, wealth and commercial interests.

As the Falcon, Passion and OG series move towards the market, their pricing, availability, technology and level of local production could determine whether the project becomes more than an online talking point and establishes itself as a serious player in Nigeria’s emerging electric vehicle market