Abiodun Launches Electric Motorcycles to Tackle Transportation Costs

 

The Ogun State Government on Wednesday launched its e-bikes and tricycles under the Ogun State Electric Mobility Programme.

The program, which aims to reduce transportation costs in the state, would also ensure a cleaner environment by reducing carbon emissions.

Speaking at the launch of the first phase of 2,000 electric motorcycles, held at the Arcade Ground, Oke-Mosan Governor’s Office, Abeokuta, the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said the E-Mobility initiative marks another milestone towards a sustainable and green future for the State.

He said: “Our administration is committed to mitigating the impact of eliminating subsidies and the high cost of diesel fuel, while reducing transportation costs for our citizens.

“In the first phase, we will produce around 2,000 e-bikes. These commercial motorcycles can travel up to 75-80 kilometers on a full charge, and the vehicles can travel up to 200 kilometers, thus reducing transportation costs by 40 percent.

“We aim to reduce our carbon footprint and bring about a significant change in the way we think about transport in our daily lives. This is in line with our energy transformation programme for a cleaner, healthier environment for future generations.”

The Ogun State government, the governor noted, has led the country in the energy transition, having been the first state to launch and deploy buses powered by condensed natural gas (CNG) about a year ago.

Abiodun said the buses are currently being used on the Ita-Oshin-Adatan route in Abeokuta as well as the Mowe-Ibafo-Lagos routes, serving residents of that corridor and drastically reducing transport fares.

“By launching e-bikes, tricycles, vehicles and battery swapping stations at specific locations, we are not just introducing a new mode of transportation; we are starting a movement towards a cleaner, more efficient and technologically advanced lifestyle,” he added.

The governor also announced the start of construction of a new facility, called Giga Facility, at the Special Agro Processing Zone located in Iperu-Remo, noting that the facility, with a total investment of $40 million, will serve as an assembly plant for electric bicycles, two-wheelers, tricycles, commercial buses, electric cars and exchange stations.

“This investment will be implemented in three phases, starting with phase one, focusing on our e-Okada bicycle assembly, and of course, phase two with our tricycles, and phase three with our electric vehicles. It will create over 10,000 direct jobs and 50,000 indirect jobs for assembly line operators,” he said.

Expressing his administration’s commitment to continue to promote public-private partnerships for the economic prosperity of the people of Ogun State, Prince Abiodun called on investors to take advantage of the peaceful and conducive business environment to invest in all sectors of the state’s economy.

The governor also appealed to the people, especially the youth, to engage the government in a constructive manner, instead of engaging in pointless protests, which often do not produce positive results.

“Factories are springing up in our state and you know that no investor would invest in an unprotected environment. Please do not allow yourselves to be used by faceless politicians who lost the elections. The federal government is doing everything it can to address the situation and, for our part, we are committed to fulfilling our election promises,” he added.

Speaking, the Minister of Transport, Alhaji Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, commended the state for being the first to launch the E-Mobility initiative, adding that with this development, Ogun has joined other African countries that currently operate more than 15,000 e-bikes in their transport sectors.

He said the program would revolutionize the transportation sector not only in the state but in the entire country as it would provide a cost-effective alternative to fuel.

Senator Alkali appealed to other state governments to take a cue from Ogun State and collaborate with the Federal Government in the use of CNG, while encouraging the public to support the programme to create jobs and make transportation more economical, efficient and environment-friendly.

In his address, the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, represented by the Executive Vice President of NNPCL, Mr. Lekan Ogunleye, commended the State for always being the first to introduce innovations for the benefit of the people.

He said that the E-Mobility programme is capable of reducing the transportation cost for both passengers and operators as well as saving the environment from pollution, assuring that NNPCL will have three charging points at its stations across the country while supporting the state government by making replacement stations available at its stations in the state.

In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Transport, Mr Olugbenga Dairo, said the launch of the programme was a follow-up to the conversion of buses to CNG last year to address the increase in transport fares caused by the removal of subsidies.

The Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, commended the governor for initiating the programme, which he said was environment-friendly.

He expressed the hope that this would reduce transportation costs and improve the population’s standard of living.

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