The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has announced intentions to introduce a fleet of solar-powered vehicles, comprising a nine-seater tricycle, a four-seater cab, and a 40-seater bus, to boost interstate mobility in the region.
Mohammed Goni , NEDC General Manager who Spoke in Maiduguri on Wednesday, 09, October 2024, during a meeting with the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers and the National Association of Transport Owners, stated that the move is consistent with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's vision for the transportation industry.
He said, “The Commission has sought the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and he has granted the go-ahead. So we are meeting with you today to discuss the modalities of operation. NATO and NURTW are the major stakeholders in the 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 North East. This will be done in three dimensions: the first will be a nine-seater solar-powered tricycle, the second is a four-seater solar-powered taxi, and the third is a 40-seater bus. We want to deploy 10,000 tricycles. The tricycle will be much more significant than the others. We believe it will go a long way in covering the entire North East.”
He said that the Commission is looking into using solar energy to power the vehicles, taking use of the region's abundant sunlight.
He claimed that fully charged buses may travel up to 300 kilometers and announced plans to hold training sessions for drivers and NEDC employees to ensure smooth operations.
Goni informed the unions that the project represents the NEDC's commitment to providing relief to the North East's transportation industry and urged them to prioritize competent management.
Meanwhile, Taraba State NATO Chairman Adama Tukur responded by commending the NEDC on the innovation, calling it an important contribution to the fight against climate change.
“Just four or five years in your office, you have done tremendously well, and now we are seeing this development again. We appreciate you and your team members,” he said.
Ahmodu Musa, the Secretary of NURTW in Borno State, also applauded the idea, underlining the significance of adequate vehicle deployment to achieve success.
