The Federal Government has officially launched a fleet of 240 electric, solar-powered tricycles across a dozen universities in Nigeria. This initiative, part of the Renewed Hope Transport Scheme, aims to revolutionize on-campus commuting for students nationwide.
Nationwide Deployment Under Renewed Hope Scheme
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, officially flagged off the deployment program on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at the University of Lagos. He announced that the tricycles are now ready for immediate use by all beneficiary institutions. A total of 240 units were procured and distributed, with 20 tricycles allocated to each of the 12 selected universities. The selection ensured representation from all six geopolitical zones, with two universities chosen from each region.
Dr. Alausa emphasized that the primary purpose of the eco-friendly vehicles is for student use. While university administrations have the authority to manage the deployment logistics, the minister strongly encouraged vice-chancellors to ensure student unions receive a substantial portion of the tricycles. This move is designed to create reliable and affordable commuting assistance opportunities across the sprawling campuses.
List of Beneficiary Universities
The first batch of universities to benefit from this green transport scheme includes:
- North-West: Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Bayero University, Kano.
- North-East: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi and University of Maiduguri, Borno State.
- North-Central: University of Jos, Plateau State and University of Ilorin, Kwara State.
- South-East: University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.
- South-South: University of Benin, Edo State and University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
- South-West: University of Lagos and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Future Expansion and Government Commitment
The government has signaled that this is just the beginning of a broader vision. Minister Alausa stated the aim is for every tertiary institution in the country to eventually receive these electric tricycles. To fund this expansion, the government has already made provisions for more tricycles in the 2026 Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) allocation guidelines. This forward planning indicates a sustained commitment to modernizing campus infrastructure and promoting sustainable transportation solutions within Nigeria's higher education sector.
The deployment of these solar-powered vehicles addresses both practical student mobility needs and environmental concerns, marking a significant step towards greener campuses. It also aligns with broader national discussions on adopting cleaner energy sources for public transport.
