- FG inspects 10,000 electric vehicles in Maiduguri
- The project will cover six North-East states
- It is expected to create thousands of jobs
The Federal Government has inspected the ongoing assembly of 10,000 electric vehicles in Maiduguri, Borno State, as part of efforts to improve transportation and create employment opportunities across the North-East.
Eko Hot Blog gathered the Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, led the inspection on Thursday and expressed satisfaction with the progress of the project being implemented by the North-East Development Commission.
The vehicles, which include electric buses, tricycles and taxis, are expected to be distributed across the six North-East states alongside charging infrastructure. According to the minister, the initiative is designed to support transportation in both rural communities and urban centres.
Momoh said the inspection showed that a large number of the vehicles were already at the assembly facility, with work progressing towards achieving the 10,000-unit target.
He described the development as encouraging and said the project demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to transforming the region.
The minister explained that the initiative would also provide employment for young people, noting that jobs were already being created through the vehicle assembly process.
He said projections indicated that as many as 100,000 people could benefit from employment opportunities linked to the assembly of the vehicles before the full target is achieved.
Beyond transportation, Momoh said the electric tricycles could help farmers move agricultural produce from rural communities to major towns and cities.
He therefore urged the NEDC management to ensure that rural residents, particularly those living along newly rehabilitated road corridors, were included in the distribution plan.
According to him, providing the vehicles to communities connected by improved roads would strengthen the movement of people and agricultural products while supporting local economic activities.
The minister also inspected road projects in the region, including the Ngwom, Kushebe and Gadamari corridor leading to Gongulong. He said the projects had recorded significant progress and would complement the benefits expected from the electric vehicle programme.
Momoh further inspected the construction of the North-East Development Commission headquarters in Maiduguri and expressed satisfaction with the pace of work.
He disclosed that the project, which was at the basement stage during his previous visit, had progressed considerably, with construction now advancing on sections of the building.
The contractors, he said, had projected completion within 18 to 24 months, subject to the availability of funds.
Momoh commended the NEDC board and management for their efforts towards rebuilding the North-East after years of insurgency.
He said the Federal Government would continue to support initiatives aimed at connecting communities with roads, improving transportation and creating opportunities for residents across the region.
