IN A decisive shift toward urban transport decarbonisation and grassroots capacity building, the Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area (LCDA) has formally launched an electric vehicle (EV) and electric motorcycle initiative aimed at buffering residents against rising energy costs while curbing municipal emissions.

The initiative, unveiled during a ceremony at the Council Secretariat on Wednesday, combines clean mobility deployment with an intensive technical transfer scheme, under which selected local youths will undergo advanced assembly and diagnostics training in China.

Addressing a gathering of state government representatives, traditional rulers, transport union executives and trade associations, the Executive Chairman of Orile-Agege LCDA, Akinola Abiodun Idowu, framed the transition to electric mobility as both an economic imperative and a public health necessity.

Idowu observed that conventional commuting expenses currently consume a disproportionate share of daily earnings for artisans, commercial motorcycle operators and small-scale traders across the metropolis.

“Transportation is central to our daily existence,” Idowu declared. “For many residents, the cost of transportation and the price of petrol take a considerable part of their daily income. Electric vehicles and motorcycles offer lower running costs because electricity can cost less per kilometre than petrol. Any savings made could help operators meet family needs and retain more of their daily earnings.”

Beyond the immediate financial relief for commercial commuters, the council chairman pointed to the ecological and public health dividends of zero-tailpipe-emission transport within high-density suburban precincts.

“In a busy community such as Orile-Agege, road traffic contributes significantly to air pollution and noise,” he noted. “Fully electric vehicles produce no exhaust emissions from their tailpipes while driving. Reducing exposure to traffic-related air pollutants will help protect respiratory and cardiovascular health, particularly among children and the elderly.”

Commending the initiative, Special Adviser Political Legislative $ Civic Engagement, Dr. Tajudeen Afolabi, hailed the council’s foresight, describing the project as a practical model of grassroots civic participation and progressive governance.
Afolabi noted that aligning local government policy with sustainable development goals directly addresses the immediate socioeconomic realities of citizens. He emphasized that active civic engagement is best achieved when government policies create tangible opportunities for youth empowerment, skills acquisition and cost-of-living relief.

According to him, the state government remains committed to supporting innovative local administration frameworks that bridge the gap between technological innovation and community development, urging other local councils across Lagos to emulate Orile-Agege’s proactive stance in preparing residents for the green economy.

The initiative is anchored on a technical partnership with Eagle SP Green and Innovations Centre, building upon an earlier solar technology training framework instituted by the council a year prior.

Speaking at the launch, the Managing Director of Eagle SP (EGOO Sustainable and Partners Limited), Mr. Alagbe Emmanuel Adegboyega, affirmed that the vehicles on display were adapted to withstand local terrain, standing water and road infrastructure realities.

“The uniqueness of our product is that it can be charged at home just like a mobile device, either via the national grid or directly through solar power without intermediary battery bank complexities,” Adegboyega explained. “Because of the topography and occasional flooding on our roads, we conducted extensive field research before finalising the vehicular design.”

Adegboyega added that the long-term objective extends beyond vehicle sales to domestic component manufacturing, including rubber processing for tire production within a five-year horizon.

Reiterating the emphasis on technology localization, the representative of the foreign technical partners, Mr. Michael Wu, stated that the electric motorcycles feature an operational range exceeding 100 kilometres per charge.

“Our goal is not merely trading or shipping assembled units,” Wu said. “We are committed to transferring technical knowledge, training local manpower and achieving progressive localization over a 5- to 10-year period.”

A central plank of the scheme is human capital development. Local youths drawn from the council have completed an introductory two-week practical course on assembling Semi-Knockdown (SKD) vehicular units.

To consolidate this capability, the council leadership confirmed that nine outstanding trainees out of an initial cohort of 29 have been selected for sponsored foreign training in China, where they will master Complete Knockdown (CKD) assembly lines, battery diagnostics and power electronics maintenance.

One of the beneficiaries, Engr. Ogunshina Oluwashimilore Goodluck, described the sponsorship as a pivotal opportunity to seed local technical expertise.

“We have been trained on how electric vehicle power systems operate, moving away from traditional internal combustion engines,” Ogunshina said. “Going to China will enable us to master the intricate electrical and electronic architecture. Upon return, our objective will be to step down this knowledge to other young Nigerians.”

Another trainee, Idowu Olanrewaju Stephen, urged youths to embrace vocational opportunities within emerging green sectors, noting that alternative energy adoption is vital to reducing national reliance on fossil fuels.

While advocating for adoption, Idowu urged commercial operators and transport cooperatives to exercise due diligence regarding lifecycle costs, charging accessibility and battery durability before making capital commitments.

He called for sustained synergy between local government councils, the Lagos State Government and private sector investors to build out charging infrastructure and battery recycling frameworks necessary for a viable e-mobility ecosystem.

The exhibition featured live demonstrations of electric tricycles and motorcycles, offering transport operators and community stakeholders direct insight into operational dynamics, solar charging integration and after-sales maintenance protocols.

Also, over 200 members of the LCDA received N200,000 each to support their businesses.
The Council Manager, Mrs. Ayoronke Seriki-Kehinde, emphasized the urgent need for local government administration to align with global climate action.

“Why are we here? We are here because the world is moving and Lagos must not be left behind,” Mrs. Seriki-Kehinde stated. “The global conversation has shifted irreversibly from fossil fuel dependency to clean energy. As a local government that sits at the closest tier to the people, we have a sacred obligation to domesticate this global agenda.”

She urged local operators to embrace the technology, declaring Orile Agege’s readiness to serve as a pilot hub for grassroots electric mobility in Lagos State.