Kaduna State Government has launched an electric vehicle (EV) initiative aimed at providing civil servants in the state with affordable and eco-friendly transportation.

The scheme was unveiled at Murtala Square, Kaduna, on Friday by Governor Uba Sani, represented by his deputy, Hadiza Balarabe.

Mr Sani said that the scheme offered tricycles and electric motorcycles through subsidised loans, with repayments deducted instalmentally from the workers’ salaries.

He emphasised the state government’s commitment to easing the recurring transportation challenges for civil servants while promoting eco-friendly mobility.

He said that the scheme was a partnership between the state government, the Nigerian Labour Congress, Paynacle Digital Services Limited, and Optimus Bank.

According to Mr Sani, the initiative seeks to ease the transportation challenges of the workers while promoting clean energy.

The managing director, Bashir Ibrahim, said to ensure the project’s sustainability, Paynacle Digital Services planned to establish EV charging stations and maintenance hubs across Kaduna’s three senatorial districts.

He also revealed that 10,000 electric motorcycles would be made available for the workers, while over 2,000 jobs would be created in assembly, maintenance, and technical support.

He said, additionally, the civil servants would enjoy a 50 per cent discount on the charging costs.

The official hailed Mr Sani’s administration for making Kaduna the first state to implement a large-scale electric mobility project for the workers.

He said that this aligned with the efforts to improve transportation, create jobs, and reduce carbon emissions.

(NAN)