The Presidency has disclosed that plans have reached advance stage for the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to commence the distribution of 10,000 electric vehicles in the north-east region of the country.
Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, dropped the hint in a post on his X handle on Sunday.
TheFact Daily recalled that the Managing Director of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Mohammed Alkali, while unveiling the plans in October last year, disclosed that about nine-seater solar-powered tricycles, four-seater taxis and 40-seater buses would be launched to ease inter-state movement in the region.
Giving an update, Onanuga said “the Tinubu administration will soon begin mass electric vehicle transportation in northeast Nigeria, with the Federal Executive Council (FEC) clearing the last obstacle to implementing the plan.”
He disclosed that last week, the Council approved contracts worth almost $100million (N151.9 billion) to supply buses and tricycles and establish charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.
Onanuga informed that the Council approved the contract for the supply of ten 17-seater electric buses to Bluecrest Integrated Concept Limited, which is expected to be executed within six months for the sum of N2.9 billion.
He also disclosed that Messrs Mutual Commitment Company Limited would supply 4000 e-tricycles for N49.6 billion within nine months, while Shanghai Integrated Infrastructure Development would supply 3,000 tricycles for N37.2 billion.
According to him, Sinoma Investment International Limited would supply another 3,000 e-tricycles, adding that all the tricycles could carry nine passengers and the driver at a go.
He said “for a contract sum of N16.3 billion, Messrs. HNCEGC will supply 100 BYD Dolphin EVs, 100 BYD Qin Plus EVs, and 37 BYD Yuan Plus EVs. At the same time, Messrs. KB Laman Motors Nigeria Limited will establish the charging points for the e-buses and tricycles for N8.4 billion.”
Onanuga explained that the North East Development Commission would pay for the contracts as part of its plan to reduce carbon emissions and promote energy efficiency in the region.
Noting that President Tinubu approved the procurement of the e-vehicles in October last year and inspected the samples of the e-vehicles, chargers, and batteries.
