The North-East Development Commission (NEDC) has distributed 1,330 electric vehicles as part of efforts to reduce transportation costs, create jobs and promote cleaner mobility across northeastern Nigeria.
According to The Guardian, the vehicles comprise 1,000 electric tricycles, 300 taxis and 30 buses.
The initiative is intended to improve transportation services and provide business opportunities for young people across the six states in the region.
NEDC targets affordable transportation
The commission’s Adamawa State Coordinator, Khalifa Lawan, disclosed details of the initiative during a stakeholders’ engagement workshop in Yola.
Lawan explained that the programme was designed to support livelihoods while reducing the financial burden associated with transportation.
“The project is intended not only to improve transportation but also to support a cleaner environment and create additional business opportunities,” he said.
He noted that the commission was working to ensure that beneficiaries could operate the vehicles sustainably.
The programme forms part of broader development interventions in the North-East, covering infrastructure, education, transportation and employment.
NEDC plans electric vehicle charging stations
Beyond distributing vehicles, the commission plans to establish charging facilities across participating states.
Lawan disclosed that at least two or three charging stations were being considered for each state, with further expansion possible as demand increased.
He urged beneficiaries to maintain the vehicles properly to ensure durability and continued operation.
Adamawa commissioner raises electricity concerns
The Adamawa State Commissioner for Transport, Rumpe Anthony, welcomed the initiative but raised concerns about inadequate electricity infrastructure.
She stressed that charging facilities needed to be established before the vehicles could operate effectively.
Anthony maintained that unreliable electricity supply could undermine the programme’s objectives if not addressed.
Stakeholders seek sustainable transport system
The Chief Executive Officer of Attahir Enterprise Nigeria Limited, Umar Bunu Abacha, described the initiative as an opportunity to create a more efficient transportation system.
He explained that the workshop would help stakeholders understand the programme’s operations and expected benefits.
Participants were also briefed on electric vehicle maintenance and charging requirements.
The commission maintained that the programme could improve mobility, support small businesses and reduce harmful vehicle emissions across the North-East.
