• Nigeria launches 240 solar-powered tricycles across 12 universities to cut transport costs

• Government-funded program includes solar charging stations and student union management

• Initiative aims to reduce fares by over 70% and promote zero-emission mobility

Nigeria’s federal government on Tuesday rolled out 240 solar-powered electric tricycles across 12 public universities, with each institution receiving 20 vehicles and a solar charging station.

Speaking at the launch event at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Education Minister Tunji Alausa said the initiative was introduced at the request of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is seeking practical and sustainable transport solutions for students.

The “President directed that we design solutions that are innovative, sustainable and responsive to the needs of our young people,” Alausa said.

The program, financed by the government’s TETFund agency, will be managed by student unions. They will set lower fares to keep the service affordable while generating enough revenue for maintenance and expansion. The deployment covers all six of Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.

According to an official statement, the tricycles are expected to “cut student transport costs by more than 70%, improve mobility on campuses and promote zero-emission transport.”

The launch comes amid mounting economic pressure. The cost of a liter of petrol jumped from 184 to more than 500 naira after the fuel subsidy was removed in May 2023.

A National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) “Transport Fare Watch- June 2023” report shows that intra-city bus fares nearly doubled in a single month, rising from 649.59 naira in May to 1,285.41 naira in June, a 97.9 percent increase. The surge has heavily affected students who rely on public transport to reach campus.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou