Zulum empowers 16,783 commercial tricycle riders
…..distributes 500 electric tricycles
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Thursday, launched a N1 billion empowerment programme for 16, 783 commercial tricycle riders and distributed 500 electric tricycles to enhance local transportation.
The beneficiaries are drawn from Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere Local Government Area of the state.
The programme was launched by the governor on Thursday in Maiduguri.
Zulum said the initiative was designed to empower less-privileged commercial tricycle riders and reduce transportation costs for residents in the two local goverment areas.
“I am privileged to launch this empowerment programme for about 1,000 beneficiaries among tricycle riders in Maiduguri and Jere today, to the glory of God and for the benefit of humanity,” he said.
“These electric tricycles were procured some months ago and what we are witnessing today is their formal distribution to less-privileged Keke Napep riders. These eco-friendly tricycles represent a significant step toward modernizing transportation while promoting environmental sustainability.”
Zulum noted that while a designated committee would oversee the payment structure for the tricycles, the state government would subsidize 30 percent of the cost to ensure affordability for beneficiaries.
“The government will subsidize part of the cost by 30 percent to make them affordable. The tricycles are being given to riders with the dual purpose of empowering them economically and reducing transportation costs for the public,” he said.
“Beneficiaries are expected to utilize the tricycles in accordance with the rules and guidelines already provided by the committee. Compliance is essential to ensure order, accountability, and the long-term success of the programme.”
The governor also announced that 16,783 registered Keke Napep riders drawn from 25 associations across the Metropolitan Council and Jere would each receive ₦50,000 financial assistance to cushion current economic hardship.
“We have approved a financial intervention amounting to ₦1 billion to support transportation workers and cushion the impact of hardship on their livelihood. A total of 16,783 registered Keke Napep riders will each receive ₦50,000 in financial support.
The governor congratulated the beneficiaries and urged them to make productive use of the opportunity.
He commended the organizing committee and the Commissioner for Transportation for successfully coordinating the initiative.
The Chairman of Borno State Empowerment Committee, Hon Saina Buba, said each tricycle can cover 65 kilometers on a single charge.
He explained that the beneficiaries were carefully selected by the leadership of their associations, stressing that none was influenced by the governor or government officials.
