NEDC to distribute 10,000 e-tricycles to mitigate Climate Change, Cut Carbon Emissions
By Ladi Jossy, Maiduguri
In an effort to reduce climate change crisis and mitigate carbon emissions into the atmosphere, the North East Development Commission (NEDC) is set to distribute 10,000 electric vehicles in the region.
Mohammed Alkali, NEDC Managing Director, stated this while unveiling the plans to introduce 9 seater solar powered tricycle, 4 seater taxi and 40 seater bus to ease inter- state movement in North East Nigeria.
Alkali said that the electric vehicles would be given to members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the National Association of Transport Owners (NATO) in Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, Borno and Yobe states.
Mohammed Goni stated that the innovation is to ease movement of people across the 112 local government areas in North Eastern states while aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for the transportation sector.
He, however, said that the distribution of the e-vehicles by the commission is to be in two phases of 5, 000 to 5,000.
He further disclosed that recharging points would be established in the six states to ensure free flow of traffic.
Additionally, five to 10 megawatts of solar power are also to be sited along the major roads in the region.
On the training of drivers and transport owners, the NEDC boss said: “All the drivers of e-vehicles and transport owners are to be trained on maintenance and operational management of the distributed e-vehicles.
“The Commission has sought the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and he has granted a go ahead. So we are meeting with you today, to discuss the modalities of operation. NATO and NURTW are the Major stakeholders in road transportation system in Nigeria and as such we are committed to carrying you along”.
“We want to introduce some innovative ideas into our transportation system in the Northeast. This will be done in three dimension, the first will be a nine seater solar powered tricycle, the second is a 4 seater solar powered taxi and 40 seater bus.
“We want to deploy 10, 000 pieces of tricycles. The tricycle will be much than others. We believe it will go along way in covering the entire Northeast,”he stated.
Goni however assured that as part of the Commission’s core responsibility of ensuring intervention, it is committed to introducing ideas that will bring relief in the transportation system to the people in the region while urging Union’s leadership to prioritise the management process.
In their responses to the ownership of e-vehicles, most of the leadership’s of the transport association applauded the commission’s initiatives to mitigate climate change in the Northeast.
On his part, Ahmodu Musa, the Secretary of the Borno state NURTW, commended the initiative while emphasizing the need for proper deployment of the mobility vehicles and tricycles.
