Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti says plans are in top gear to modernize the State’s Transport Sector through partnership with the Coscharis Group to roll out Electric Vehicles (EVs) for intra-city transport services.
Governor Otti who was speaking at Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, during a Business Meeting with the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka and his team, said the initiative is aimed at establishing an efficient and sustainable transportation system in major cities of Aba, Umuahia, and Ohafia.
The Governor noted that while some European countries have set timelines between 2030 and 2035 to phase out fossil fuel vehicles, Nigeria’s immediate past administration had projected a much later timeline of 2070, adding that transitioning to EVs is inevitable.
The State Chief Executive emphasized the economic and environmental benefits of renewable energy, stating that Electric vehicles rely on charging, unlike fossil fuels or compressed natural gas (CNG), which, though cleaner, still leave behind environmental impacts.
He also highlighted the reduced maintenance costs of Electronic Vehicles, pointing out that they have significantly fewer components compared to conventional vehicles.
Regarding power supply for Electronic Vehicle charging, Governor Otti expressed confidence in Abia State’s readiness in siting the steady electricity power supply in Aba through Geometric Power, which services nine Local Government Areas presently.
He said plans are underway to extend similar power autonomy to the remaining eight Local Government Areas currently under the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), as plans are in top gear to integrate the entire state into the localized power system.
The Governor also stressed the importance of creating a robust ecosystem for the EVs initiative, and urged the Coscharis Group to collaborate closely with the State Government team to finalize and launch the project.
In his remarks earlier, the President and Chief Executive Officer of COSCHARIS Group, Dr. Cosmos Maduka, thanked the State Government for choosing them as partners, adding that the project aligns perfectly with their expertise having been in the automobile business for over five decades.
Dr. Maduka assured the Governor that they are very much interested in the project and will bring their experience and capacity to bear to help the State actualize and sustain the project.
