The North-East Development Commission (NEDC) has unveiled plans to deploy 10,330 electric vehicles across the six states of the North-East region as part of efforts to reduce transportation costs, create employment opportunities and promote environmentally friendly mobility.

The initiative comprises 10,000 electric tricycles, 300 electric taxis and 30 electric buses and is being implemented in partnership with Attahir Enterprises Nigeria Limited.

The plan was announced during a two-day stakeholders’ engagement and sensitisation workshop held in Bauchi State.

Speaking at the end of the workshop, the NEDC Bauchi State Coordinator, Aliyu Isiyaku, said the initiative was designed to provide affordable, safer and environmentally sustainable transportation services to residents of the region.

He explained that the engagement was organised to ensure that relevant stakeholders understood the project and contributed to its successful implementation, particularly at the grassroots.

According to him, the initiative is expected to reduce transportation costs, create employment opportunities for young people, protect the environment and lower carbon emissions.

Isiyaku added that the success of the initial phase would determine the possibility of expanding the deployment of electric vehicles across the region.

Providing details of the project, the Chief Executive Officer of Attahir Enterprises Nigeria Limited, Gudu Umar Abacha, said the electric vehicles could travel up to 300 kilometres on a full charge.

He explained that the electric buses and taxis would operate mainly in urban centres, while three charging points would be established to support their operations.

He added that the electric tricycles would be deployed across local government areas to extend the benefits of the initiative to rural communities.

According to him, each electric tricycle would come with two charging units, allowing operators to charge their vehicles at home.

Abacha further disclosed that the vehicles would be handed over to the respective state governments for distribution to beneficiaries, who would undergo training before commencing operations.

Meanwhile, transport unions in Bauchi State have commended the NEDC and the FG for introducing the initiative, describing it as a potential solution to rising transportation costs and unemployment.

The Bauchi State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Ismail Abubakar, urged the commission to involve recognised transport associations in the distribution process to ensure transparency, accountability and fairness in selecting beneficiaries.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Bauchi State Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators’ Association, Bala Dauda, expressed the association’s readiness to support the programme.

The Zonal Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Abdullahi Muhammad, also welcomed the initiative but stressed the need for proper management, maintenance and monitoring to ensure its sustainability.

He urged the authorities to establish clear distribution guidelines to prevent political interference and ensure that the vehicles reach genuine transport operators.

Muhammad also called for the involvement of transport unions in identifying beneficiaries, noting that the associations were better positioned to determine the needs of their members.

He expressed optimism that the introduction of electric vehicles would help reduce operating costs for commercial transport operators, particularly amid rising petrol prices.

The initiative is expected to cover Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states, with the aim of improving transportation services and creating economic opportunities across the North-East region.