By online editor
The Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, has inspected the North-East Development Commission’s (NEDC) 10,000 electric vehicles and other projects in Borno State ahead of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to the state.
The inspection formed part of the minister’s assessment of ongoing NEDC interventions in the state, with Momoh expressing satisfaction with the progress of work on the projects.
During the inspection, Momoh urged the NEDC Managing Director, Mohammed Goni Alkali, to make some of the electric tricycles available to farmers to transport their produce from rural communities to markets.
He said the initiative would help revive agrarian communities affected by years of Boko Haram insurgency, boost agricultural production and create jobs for youths across the region.
The NEDC Managing Director, Mohammed Goni Alkali, said the electric mobility project comprised more than 10,000 electric vehicles, including buses, tricycles and taxis, with charging infrastructure.
He said the E-Vehicles Mini Assembly Plant was designed to promote local assembly, develop technical capacity, facilitate technology transfer and create employment opportunities for young people in the North-East.
According to him, the project would also strengthen the emerging electric mobility ecosystem in the region and create opportunities for skills development and enterprise.
Alkali said the initiative was aligned with the North-East Stabilisation and Development Master Plan (NESDMP), particularly its focus on environmental protection, purposeful infrastructure, including transportation, and regional connectivity.
He added that the promotion of electric mobility and local assembly would contribute to cleaner transportation, improve connectivity and create opportunities for skills development, enterprise and employment.
Speaking on the security situation, Momoh said the restoration of security in parts of Borno had created an enabling environment for development, particularly in areas previously affected by insurgency.
He expressed satisfaction with the progress of NEDC projects in the state, saying the commission’s headquarters was expected to be completed before the end of Alkali’s tenure.
Momoh also said the NEDC state office in Borno was expected to be completed soon.
He urged the commission to identify more areas requiring intervention and sustain efforts to address the development needs of communities across the North-East.
The minister commended the NEDC project team, engineers, contractors and other stakeholders for their commitment to delivering the projects in accordance with the required standards and specifications.
