By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin

Against the backdrop of the ongoing severe economic hardship imposed on the masses by the removal of fuel subsidy, former Senior Special Assistant on Community Intervention to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, Hon Kayode Oyin Zubair has expressed his commitment to ease the hardship of public transportation in Nigeria.

Kayode, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of KOZ Electric Vehicles Nigeria said this at a press conference in Ilorin while test running two electric-powered Tricycles out of the 100 he has concluded plans to roll out for public use on October 1, 2024.

He also hinted that by the end of 2024, not less than 1000 of the Electric Tricycles produced by the company would be produced for public use.

He also “test-run” Two of the diesel Tractors produced by Ecomead Global Nigeria Limited, also a subsidiary of KOZ Group that would be massively produced soon which he also presented to the public.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof Wahab Olasupo Egbewole SAN, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, TOAN State Chairman Alhaji Saliu Gidado and various bank representatives graced the event.

Professor Egbewole who commended the alumnus of the university for the initiative, urged the state and even federal government to support the business to make life easier for the masses.

The Vice-Chancellor further urged everyone to look inward for creative ways of doing things that would make life a lot better for everyone during this trying period.

The Electric Tricycle, with Two back seats facing each other, and another seat at the front attached to the rider’s seat will conveniently accommodate five passengers excluding the rider.

Kayode said he got the initiative in India during his several visits to understudy their mode of transport,and concluded on Electric Tricycles because of the fuel crisis and easy maintenance by the users.

According to him,””Since the removal of fuel subsidy and the attendant hardship,we have been thinking about what to do to ease the hardship and make life a lot better for the masses,so among others we came up with the option of Electric Power Tricycle.

“In terms of the sustainability, maintenance and convenience it’s our best option.We are only contributing to national growth and economic good of Nigerians”.

Kayode,a native of Igbaja in Ifelodun local government area of the state,who said that the companies are based in ilorin,Kwara state capital also explained that while sleeping or doing other things,the Tricycle when fully charged for about five hours,can work for eight hours.

“We went to India to understudy the production system before we came up with this based on our own needs and people’s convenience.As we can see, owners of the Tricycle don’t have business with fuel or gas.We know everyone uses electricity in Nigeria, that’s why concluded on this option so that it can be conveniently charged and charged over again for the user’s delight.”he said.

He also said that arrangements have been concluded with National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM) and KAM Wire,all based in the state capital to be producing the body of the projects while the engines and steering alone would be imported from India.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq who was represented at the occasion by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Shokoya Funke expressed gladness that such a mind-blowing project is happening in Kwara.

The governor said that with the current situation in the country now, there’s no better time for the operation of electric tricycle than now.

He also said that there’s the urgent need for everyone to turn to agricultural now,in view of the current economic hardship that had affected every facet of masses lives.

“This project will go a long way to reduce the burden of fuel subsidy and scarcity,this has further added to the feather of the cap of the state government”said governor’s representative .

For his part,state Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN)said farmers should be the happiest people in the state with the newly developed Tractor .