The North East Development Commission (NEDC), in collaboration with Renewed Hope and Attahir Enterprises Nigeria Limited, has organised a stakeholder engagement and sensitisation workshop on electric vehicles to promote cleaner transportation, environmental sustainability and economic development in the North-East region.
The initiative features plans involving ten thousand electric tricycles, three hundred electric taxis and thirty electric buses to improve transportation, reduce energy costs and create economic opportunities across the region.
The workshop, held at Custodian Hotel, Gombe, was themed “Powering the North-East: Embracing Electric Mobility for a Cleaner, Smarter and Prosperous Future,” with the tagline “Connecting Communities, Creating Opportunities.”
In his welcome address, the NEDC Gombe State Coordinator, Architect Usman Muhammad, described electric tricycles as an important alternative means of transportation, noting their potential to reduce energy costs and promote environmental protection.
He explained that electric mobility was already being adopted in several developing countries and expressed optimism that the initiative would contribute to sustainable transportation and development in the North-East.
Speaking at the workshop, Rufai Lawan Baba Manu urged participants, particularly motorcycle and tricycle repairers, to embrace the emerging technology and acquire the skills required to maintain and repair electric vehicles.
He noted that technological advancements were changing the transportation sector, stressing the need for people to take advantage of the opportunities to improve their livelihoods and economic well being.
Rufai Baba Manu explained that the initiative was not merely about replacing petrol powered engines but about developing cleaner, smarter and more efficient transportation systems.
He also disclosed that two filling stations would be provided in Gombe to serve as charging stations for electric vehicles.
The Chief Executive Officer of Attahir Enterprises Nigeria Limited, Bunu Umar Abacha said the programme would provide electric buses, taxis and tricycles to the people of North East Nigeria.
He explained that the initiative was designed to ease transportation challenges, reduce commuting costs and alleviate the economic hardship faced by residents.
In their separate remarks, the District Head of Doma, Alhaji Abdullahi Doma, and the District Head of Jalo Waziri Sammani Bappah Yerima, commended the NEDC for its efforts towards improving the welfare of people in the region.
The traditional rulers urged participants to pay attention to the training, acquire the necessary skills and extend the knowledge to other members of their communities.
In a lecture presentation, Engineer Emmanuel Wapah, Usiju Elijah and Joseph Edward Gadzama delivered a lecture on electric vehicle technology, sustainability and workshop practices.
They explained the concept of electric vehicles and highlighted their major components, distinguishing them from conventional petrol-powered vehicles.
The facilitators emphasised the importance of adopting sustainable energy solutions, noting that electric mobility presents opportunities to promote environmental protection, improve transportation efficiency and support economic development.
Participants at the workshop included members of mechanics’ associations, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), traditional rulers and other relevant stakeholders in the transportation sector.
The workshop is expected to enhance public awareness, build technical capacity and encourage stakeholder participation in the transition towards cleaner and more sustainable transportation across Nigeria’s North-East region.
End
