Ogun rolls out 2,000 electric bikes, tricycles

The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Wednesday, launched the electric bikes and tricycles, under the Ogun State E-Mobility Programme.

The governor also announced the groundbreaking of a new facility, named Giga Facility, at the Special Agro Processing Zone located in Iperu-Remo, noting that the facility, with a total investment of $40m, would serve as an assembly plant for electric bikes, two-wheelers, tricycles, commercial buses, electric cars, and swap stations.

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

“Our administration is committed to mitigating the impact of the subsidy removal and the high cost of diesel fuel while reducing transportation costs for our citizens.

“We will be realising about 2,000 electric bikes in the first phase. These commercial motorbikes can ride up to 75-80 kilometres on a full charge, and the vehicles can travel up to 200 kilometres, thus reducing transportation costs by 40 per cent.

“We aim to reduce our carbon footprint and bring about a significant change in how we think about transportation in our daily lives. This aligns with our energy transformation programme for a cleaner and healthier environment for future generations,” he said.

Speaking on the $40m assembly plant, the governor expressed the commitment of his administration to the Public-Private Partnerships for the economic prosperity of the state.

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

Abiodun further 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 noted that the state government had led the country in energy transition, being the first state to launch and deploy Compressed Natural Gas buses about a year ago.

Abiodun stated that the buses were currently deployed on the Ita-Oshin-Adatan route in Abeokuta, as well as the Mowe-Ibafo to Lagos routes, serving residents in the corridor and drastically reducing transportation fares.

“Through the launching of electric bikes, tricycles, vehicles, and battery swap stations at specific points, we are not just introducing a new mode of transportation; we are pioneering a movement towards a cleaner, more efficient, and technologically advanced way of life,” he added.

The governor appealed to the people, particularly the youth, to engage the government constructively, instead of embarking on unnecessary protests, which often did not yield positive results.

The Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Sa’idu Alkali, lauded the state for being the first to launch the e-mobility initiative, adding that with the development, Ogun had joined other African countries currently using more than 15,000 e-bikes in their transportation sectors.

Senator Alkali appealed to other state governments to take a cue from Ogun State in partnering with the Federal Government in CNG usage, just as he encouraged the public to support the programme to create jobs and make transportation cheaper, more efficient, and environmentally friendly.

The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, represented by the Executive Vice President of NNPCL, Mr Lekan Ogunleye, lauded the state for always being the first in any innovation that would benefit the people.

He said the e-mobility programme was capable of cutting transportation costs for both passengers and operators, as well as saving the environment from pollution.

He assured the people that the NNPCL would have three charging points in its stations across the country while supporting the state government by making swap stations available in the state.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Olugbenga Dairo, in his welcome address, said the launch of the programme was a follow-up to the conversion of the CNG buses last year.

The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, lauded the governor for initiating the programme which, he said, was environmentally friendly.

He expressed the hope that it would bring down transportation costs and improve the standard of living of the people.