By Ndahi Salihu, Maiduguri
The North East Development Commission (NEDC) is set to distribute 10,000 electric vehicles, tricycles and taxis across the regional states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi and Taraba.
The intervention aims to improve cheap transportation, improve livelihoods and economic recovery.
The minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, disclosed this during an inspection of NEDC projects in Maiduguri, Borno State, ahead of their commissioning.
Momoh inspected the electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, the Jere Bowl road network, the NEDC state office and the ongoing construction of the commission’s corporate headquarters in Maiduguri.
According to the Minister, the electric mobility project, which the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved earlier, is among the major interventions being implemented by the NEDC across the North East.
The minister said the inspection was to assess the level of project completion before inviting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to commission them.
“I am impressed as we aren’t disappointed to see this project seeing the light of the day; nearly 10,000 e-vehicles and tricycles are almost assembled,” Momoh said.
He said the completed roads under the NEDC intervention would open up economic opportunities for communities affected by the lingering insurgency.
According to him, the completed road projects include the 22.5-kilometre Jere Bowl Road network, the 10.5-kilometre Ngwom-Kashebe Road, the 8.5-kilometre Gongulong-Zabarmari-Khaddamar Road and the 3.5-kilometre Galameri-Dasuman Road.
“These roads in the Jere/Mafa axis of Borno State have improved access to markets and enabled farmers to transport agricultural produce to Maiduguri and other urban centres”. He stated.
Momoh, who commended the NEDC management and board for the projects, said the Federal Ministry of Regional Development would continue to provide the necessary supervision to ensure that interventions in the region deliver tangible benefits.
He was accompanied during the inspection by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Mary Ada Ogbe; officials of the Ministry; the NEDC Managing Director, Mohammed Goni Alkali; and other management staff of the Commission.
