NEDC Yet To Finalise Distribution Of 10,330 Electric Vehicles In North-East

The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has said it is yet to finalise the modalities for distributing 10,330 electric vehicles across the six states of the North-East region.

The Bauchi State Coordinator of the Commission, Alhaji Aliyu Isiyaku, disclosed this on Monday while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a stakeholders’ engagement workshop in Bauchi.

The workshop, themed “Powering the North-East: Embracing Electric Mobility for a Cleaner, Smarter and Prosperous Future,” was organised to sensitise stakeholders on the proposed initiative and obtain their input before the vehicles are deployed.

Isiyaku said the Commission was proposing to distribute 10,000 electric tricycles, 300 electric taxis and 30 electric buses as part of efforts to promote cleaner, cheaper and more sustainable transportation across the region.

He explained that consultations had been held across the six states, adding that the Commission would consider recommendations from stakeholders before deciding on the most appropriate and transparent distribution mechanism.

According to him, the engagement brought together transport operators, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to discuss the initiative and its implementation.

He said the Commission would deliberate on the recommendations received during the consultations to ensure that the distribution process was fair and consistent with its established policies and procedures.

Isiyaku urged interested groups to exercise patience while the Commission finalised the arrangements, stressing that the distribution modalities had not been concluded.

The initiative is expected to reduce transportation costs, create employment opportunities for young people, protect the environment and cut carbon emissions associated with conventional transport systems.

The coordinator added that the success of the initial phase would help determine whether the programme would be expanded in the future.

The clarification followed calls by some transport unions for the vehicles to be distributed through recognised transport associations rather than state governments.

The unions argued that involving established transport associations would promote transparency, accountability and fairness in the distribution process.

However, the Commission has yet to announce the final mechanism for allocating the vehicles or provide a timeline for their distribution across the North-East.