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In a move that signals Benue State’s growing push toward greener, cheaper, and youth-friendly transportation, Governor Rev Fr Dr Hyacinth Alia on Tuesday personally flagged off the distribution of Spiro electric motorbikes to beneficiaries under the state’s Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).
The brief but colorful ceremony took place at the RAAMP headquarters in Makurdi, where the Governor announced an additional two-percent discount on the already subsidized bikes, further lowering the cost for riders who have been battling rising fuel prices.
Spiro electric bikes, now a familiar sight in cities like Lagos and Ibadan, are finally rolling into the North-Central in meaningful numbers. Unlike conventional petrol “okadas,” these sleek machines run entirely on electricity, feature a convenient battery-swap system (swap a flat battery for a fully charged one in seconds), and cost a fraction to operate. Charging and swapping stations are being strategically positioned across the state to keep riders moving without long downtimes.
Speaking at the event, Governor Alia described the initiative as another deliberate step to empower Benue youth, cut household transport expenses, reduce air pollution, and create sustainable income opportunities. He reiterated his administration’s partnership with micro-development agencies (MDAs) to put tools of productivity directly into the hands of young people.
“These bikes are far cheaper to run than petrol bikes,” he told the gathering. “No more spending thousands every week on fuel. Just swap, ride, and earn.”
In a lighter moment that drew laughter and applause, the Governor pointed at one of the gleaming bikes on display and warned potential thieves: “These ones have trackers o! Going forward, nobody is going to steal any bike in Benue State.”
He was received by the Benue State RAAMP Coordinator, Hon. Steven Numbeve, and the Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Benjamin Ashaver, both of whom praised the Governor for the swift procurement and rollout.
For many commercial riders in Makurdi, the arrival of Spiro bikes cannot come soon enough. Daily fuel costs have eaten deeply into earnings, and the promise of near-zero running costs, combined with subsidized purchase prices and accessible swapping stations, has already sparked long waiting lists.
As the first batch of riders took delivery of keys and helmets amid cheers and camera flashes, one thing was clear: Benue’s transport landscape is shifting, one electric bike at a time, and the state government wants its youth leading that change.
