Benue State Pioneers Rural Mobility Revolution with Subsidized Spiro Electric Motorcycles

The roar of petrol engines on Benue’s rural roads is giving way to the silent hum of electric power. Today, Governor Hyacinth Alia launched a game-changing initiative under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP): the distribution of highly subsidized Spiro electric motorcycles to farmers, Okada riders, civil servants, and traders across the state.

At the unveiling in Makurdi, RAAMP State Coordinator Hon. Stephen Numbeve called the program a landmark in sustainable transportation. “This isn’t just about bikes,” he told journalists. “It’s about cutting fuel costs, boosting productivity, and connecting communities. These electric motorcycles will make life easier for farmers, Okada riders, and civil servants while promoting cleaner energy and opening up opportunities across Benue.”

The Spiro bikes are built for real-world use: over 130 kilometers on a single charge, a digital tracking system for security, low maintenance, and—crucially—a price made affordable through heavy government subsidies.

Governor Alia framed the launch as part of a broader vision. “Our mission is to make Benue work for everyone—farmers, Okada riders, civil servants, and traders,” he said. “We are creating a new model of rural and urban development built on innovation, sustainability, and accessibility. No community and no citizen will be left behind.”

He stressed the domino effect of better mobility: “When people can move faster and cheaper, trade grows. Productivity increases. Communities thrive. That’s exactly what we’re achieving through RAAMP.”

RAAMP has already rehabilitated over 500 kilometers of rural roads, built modern agro-logistics centers, and constructed warehouses to support farmers. Numbeve praised Governor Alia’s leadership—timely funding, hands-on oversight, and a clear focus on inclusive growth—as the engine behind the agency’s success.

“Governor Alia understands that development must be practical and must touch lives directly,” Numbeve said. “His full support has allowed us to deliver projects that truly make a difference.”

The electric motorcycle program aligns perfectly with RAAMP’s goals of improving rural access, strengthening agricultural markets, and managing infrastructure sustainably. It’s a government that listens—and acts.

As Numbeve put it: “When mobility improves, everything else follows.”

For many in Benue, the change is already real. One farmer from Guma LGA, holding the keys to his new electric bike, said it simply: “Now I can get my produce to market faster, spend less, and still feed my family.”

Benue isn’t just handing out motorcycles. It’s charging toward a cleaner, more connected, and more prosperous future—one electric ride at a time.

By Solo Dzuah