By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Amid incessant rising costs of fuel in Nigeria, Kwara State is set to be flooded with commercial electric tricycles to ease transportation problem in the State.

This was disclosed on Thursday at the stakeholders meeting held on Electric Tricycles Acquisition Scheme in Ilorin, the state capital.

Addressing the stakeholders, the Director-General of the EV Mass Transit Solutions, James Oludele Clinton, said 5,000 of the electric tricycles would be made available to Kwara State.

He, however, said the project would start with 500 of the tricycles as a pilot scheme in the capital city of Ilorin before extending it to other parts of the State.

The DG, who described the programme as first of its kind in Nigeria by his organisation, disclosed that it would fully take off in the State by December 2024, lauding the state government for facilitating locations for swap cabinets where rundown batteries would be easily swapped with the changed ones.

Clinton, who said the tricycles use neither fuel nor oil, explained that the battery when fully charged can last a trip of 80 kilometers, adding that the tricycle is a 7-seater passenger vehicle with a driver.

While disclosing that the vehicle would be given out to the purchaser with payment of purchase price on instalmental basis, Clinton said 10 percent of the purchase price would first be paid after which the remainder would be required to be paid between the next 30 and 36 months.

He said that manufacturers of the tricycles would be available in the State with spare parts of the vehicles for repair purposes.

Also speaking, Chairman of the state chapter of the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN), Saliu Giddado, assured the EV Mass Transit Solutions and other stakeholders that they would all recover the money they may spend on the scheme.

He urged his members who would be beneficiaries of the scheme not to default in the refund of the purchase price.

“I want to reassure all the parties that will involve in this business not to entertain any fear about recovery of the money spent on the business. We have wealth of experience to handle the business.

“I want at this juncture, turn to my members who may be beneficiary of the tricycle to perform according to the rules of the business, what we intend doing is business not Christmas cake or lleya Ram. You will not have any reason to default since all what can cause you delay will be taken care of.

“Conclusively, I want to bring glad tidings to the general public that there is no way the transport fare will not crash, because perpetual increase in fuel pump price contributed largely to the higher rate of transport fare, but with emergence of this new innovation we shall all have cause to glorify God Almighty,” he stated.

Also speaking, Commissioner for Business Innovation and Technology, Damilola Adelodun, said the introduction of the electric tricycles into the nation’s transport system marked a bold step towards embracing technology and promoting eco-friendly alternatives in line with global trends.

She said: “This welcome initiative will enhance our transportation system and address environmental concerns by reducing carbon emissions, which aligns with our broader goal of creating a cleaner, greener Kwara.

“The introduction of electric tricycles is one of many steps we are taking to transform Kwara into a hub of technological advancement and a business-friendly state. We are committed to supporting initiatives that promote clean energy, reduce dependency on fossil fuels, and enhance our transport infrastructure.”