Abia State Government has unveiled plans to modernize its transport sector by partnering with the Coscharis Group to roll out Electric Vehicles (EVs) for intra-city and State transport services.
The initiative is aimed at establishing an efficient and sustainable transportation system in major cities such as Aba, Umuahia, and Ohafia.
Speaking at Nvosi Isialangwa South LGA, during a Business Meeting with the Founder, President, and CEO of the Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka and his team, Governor Alex Otti highlighted the rationale behind the decision to embrace Electric Vehicles.
“Our decision to go electric was a well thought out decision, we didn’t just jump into it, we looked at everything”, Governor Otti stated.
He 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 Governor 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 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, citing the steady electricity power supply in Aba through Geometric Power, which services nine Local Government Areas.
He said that plans are underway to extend similar power autonomy to the remaining eight LGAs currently under the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), and explained that plans are underway to integrate the entire state into the localized power system.
“Aba as an island is out of the National Grid technically. So, the remaining 8 Local Governments from Umuahia all the way to Arochukwu and Umunneoche, under the EEDC program.
“We are discussing with them on how to buy the Abia part of EEDC from Interstate Electricity and then take excess power from Geometric to Umuahia”, the Governor disclosed.
Governor Otti also detailed efforts to address power challenges, including interventions with the Federal Government to prioritize gas supply for Geometric Power and resolve issues with the Alaoji Power Plant to increase electricity production.
He emphasized 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.
“There is no State that is as well positioned as we are to push for Electric Vehicles. When we looked at it, we felt that it is a way to go.
“in the next few days, I will want you to sit down with my team so that we can move this to the last mile and get it started”, Gov Otti declared.
In his remarks earlier, the Founder, President and CEO of COSCHARIS Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka, expressed gratitude to the Abia 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 and help the State actualize and sustain the project.
He emphasized that Electric Vehicles is where the world is headed and described the partnership as trailblazing and likely to inspire other states.
Dr. Maduka, who lauded Governor’s leadership style said that for the first time, the people of Abia State got it right by electing Governor Otti, who he said has “managed things from zero situations to tangible outcomes”.
Contributing, the Group Managing Director, COSCHARIS, Mr. Josiah Samuel, also praised the initiative which he contrasted with the Federal Government’s focus on CNG buses and argued that some cities in China has achieved 50% penetration in EVs.
The Meeting was attended by top officials from the Coscharis Group, including Mr. Jonathan Maduka, Executive Director of Strategy, and Mr. C.C. Chigbundu, CEO of Coscharis Mobility while the Principal Secretary and Chief Strategy Officer to the Governor, Mr. Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu and the Technical Assistant to the Governor Mr. Charles Egonye were part of the Government’ team.
