1 month ago
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The North East Development Commission has announced plans to launch a fleet of solar-powered vehicles, including a nine-seater tricycle, a four-seater taxi, and a 40-seater bus, to improve inter-state transportation across the region.
Speaking in Maiduguri on Wednesday during a meeting with the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers and the National Association of Transport Owners, the NEDC General Manager, Mohammed Goni, revealed that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for the transportation sector.
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 added that the Commission is exploring solar energy to power the vehicles, capitalising on the abundant sunlight in the region.
He stated that fully charged buses can travel up to 300 kilometres and announced plans to organise training sessions for drivers and NEDC staff to ensure smooth operations.
Goni assured that the initiative reflects the NEDC’s commitment to bringing relief to the transportation sector in the North East, urging the unions to prioritise effective management.
In response, Taraba State NATO Chairman Adama Tukur commended the NEDC for the innovation, calling it a significant 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.
The Secretary of NURTW in Borno State, Ahmodu Musa, also praised the initiative, emphasising the importance of proper deployment of the vehicles to ensure success.
