The North-East Development Commission has announced plans to deploy 10,330 electric vehicles across the six states in the region to reduce transportation costs, create jobs and promote environmentally friendly mobility.
The initiative comprises 10,000 electric tricycles, 300 electric taxis and 30 electric buses, in partnership with Attahir Enterprises Nigeria Limited.
The Bauchi State Coordinator of the commission, Aliyu Isiyaku, disclosed this on Friday at the end of a two-day stakeholders’ engagement and sensitisation workshop in Bauchi.
Isiyaku said the programme was designed to provide affordable and safer transportation services while reducing carbon emissions and creating employment opportunities, particularly for young people.
He explained that the engagement was organised to familiarise stakeholders with the project and secure their support for its successful implementation at the grassroots.
According to him, the success of the initial phase would determine whether the deployment would be expanded across the region.
The Chief Executive Officer of Attahir Enterprises Nigeria Limited, Umar Abacha, said the electric vehicles could cover up to 300 kilometres on a full charge.
He added that the electric buses and taxis would primarily serve urban areas, while the tricycles would be deployed to local government areas to extend the benefits to rural communities.
Abacha disclosed that three charging points would be established to support the operation of the buses and taxis, while each electric tricycle would be provided with two charging units to enable operators to charge their vehicles at home.
He said the vehicles would be handed over to the respective state governments for distribution to beneficiaries, who would receive training on their safe and efficient operation.
Meanwhile, transport unions and other stakeholders have called for transparency and proper monitoring in the distribution of the vehicles.
The Bauchi State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Ismail Abubakar, commended the NEDC and the Federal Government for the initiative, describing it as an opportunity to reduce transportation costs and improve operators’ livelihoods.
He urged the commission to work with recognised transport associations to ensure that genuine operators were selected as beneficiaries.
Similarly, the Zonal Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Abdullahi Muhammad, welcomed the programme but warned against political interference in the distribution process.
“We are very excited and happy about the project because of the benefits it will bring to the people,” Muhammad said.
He stressed the need for clear distribution criteria, effective monitoring and proper maintenance to ensure the programme remained sustainable.
Muhammad also advised the authorities to distribute the vehicles through recognised transport unions rather than political structures, arguing that the unions were better positioned to identify eligible beneficiaries.
He proposed an equitable allocation across the three senatorial zones of Bauchi State and urged the commission to consider other qualified operators in subsequent phases.
The transport union leader identified the high cost of petrol, which he put at about ₦1,460 per litre, as a major challenge facing operators.
He expressed optimism that electric vehicles could ease the burden of fuel costs, although charging, maintenance and other operating expenses would still need to be considered.
The District Head of Shafa, Lawal Mohammed, also pledged the support of traditional institutions in educating residents about the programme and encouraging its acceptance, particularly in rural communities.
Stakeholders said transparent allocation, sustained community engagement and effective management would be essential to ensuring that the initiative delivers lasting benefits to transport operators and passengers across the North-East.
