The North-East Development Commission (NEDC) has distributed 1,330 electric vehicles, comprising buses, taxis and tricycles, as part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions, ease transportation challenges and create jobs for young people across the region.

The vehicles comprise 1,000 electric tricycles, 300 taxis and 30 buses, intended to improve access to affordable transportation and provide business opportunities across the six North-East states.

The NEDC Adamawa State Coordinator, Khalifa Lawan, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ engagement and sensitisation workshop on seamless commuting in Yola.

Lawan said the initiative was designed to promote environmentally friendly transportation while ensuring that the commission’s interventions improved the livelihoods of households across the region.

He noted that the NEDC was established to accelerate development in the North-East through interventions in education, infrastructure, skills training, transportation and other critical sectors.

According to him, Adamawa State is expected to receive more than 1,000 electric tricycles, alongside electric taxis and buses, under the initiative.

He said the programme would help reduce transportation costs, improve mobility and enable beneficiaries, particularly young people, to establish businesses and earn a living.

However, Lawan stressed that adequate charging infrastructure would be essential to the success of the initiative. He said the commission planned to establish at least two or three charging stations in each North-East state, with the possibility of expanding the facilities to meet growing demand.

He added that the project aligned with the Federal Government’s efforts to reduce transportation costs and improve the welfare of people at the grassroots.

Lawan urged beneficiaries to maintain the vehicles properly to ensure their durability and the sustainability of the programme.

“The project is intended not only to improve transportation but also to support a cleaner environment and create additional business opportunities,” he said.

The Chief Executive Officer of Attahir Enterprise Nigeria Limited, Umar Bunu Abacha, described the initiative as part of broader efforts to develop an efficient, inclusive and sustainable transportation system.

Abacha said the workshop was organised to familiarise stakeholders with the programme’s objectives, expected benefits and operational framework. It also provided a platform for information sharing, clarification and discussions on the responsibilities of stakeholders in ensuring effective implementation.

The Adamawa State Commissioner for Transport, Mrs Rumpe Anthony, said the workshop would deepen stakeholders’ understanding of the NEDC’s interventions in the transport sector.

She, however, emphasised the need to provide sufficient charging points before deploying the vehicles, citing concerns over the state’s unreliable electricity supply.

Anthony said the initiative could empower beneficiaries and ease transportation difficulties, but stressed that proper vehicle management would be necessary to protect lives and property.

The workshop facilitator, Emmanuel Mwada Wapah, highlighted the environmental and economic benefits of electric vehicles, noting that they could reduce noise and exhaust emissions while supporting energy security and economic activities.

Wapah said the vehicles’ performance would depend on proper charging and maintenance. He added that they could cover up to 300 kilometres on a full charge, while charging could take about one hour under specified conditions.