The President, represented by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, performed the official launch at a colourful ceremony in Abuja.

Describing the scheme as a practical demonstration of the Renewed Hope Agenda, President Tinubu said: “This Electric Tricycle Empowerment Initiative will enable our young people to become self-employed, reduce the cost of transportation for millions of Nigerians, cut carbon emissions, and contribute meaningfully to national development.”

The programme is a tripartite partnership between the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, House of Destiny Global Services, and the National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association (NATOMORAS), which has over 18 million members nationwide.

Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, hailed the initiative as a game-changer for the informal sector, saying previous empowerment programmes had largely ignored tricycle riders, mechanics, and transporters.

“Under President Tinubu, a true leader, not a ruler, Nigerian youths in the informal economy are finally feeling the impact of government. Today marks a new dawn,” Olawande declared.

He announced that beneficiaries will not only receive brand-new electric tricycles but also training and access to opportunities along the entire value chain: battery maintenance, charging-station management, repairs, spare-parts supply, and solar-powered charging hubs.

The minister revealed that the ministry, in collaboration with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), is already developing made-in-Nigeria electric vehicles that meet international standards.

At least 100 start-up grants for young entrepreneurs in the electric mobility sector will be disbursed before the end of 2025, with thousands more tricycles to be rolled out in 2026.

National Chairman of NATOMORAS, Alhaji Usman Buba Gwoza, described the launch as “a symbol of hope” for millions of riders currently crushed by rising petrol prices.

“With electric tricycles, daily running costs will drop drastically, earnings will rise, and our environment will be cleaner. This is the kind of practical governance Nigerians have been waiting for,” he said.

He appealed to the Federal Government to scale up the programme rapidly so that more of NATOMORAS’ 18 million members can benefit.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Maryam Keshinro, represented by Director Joseph Samuel, said the initiative directly tackles three national challenges at once: youth unemployment, high transport fares, and climate change while creating sustainable green jobs for the future.

The Electric Tricycle Empowerment Initiative is the latest in a series of youth-focused interventions by the Tinubu administration, coming just days after the President directed the withdrawal of over 11,000 police officers from VIPs to boost street-level security ahead of the festive season.