Electric motorcycles are appearing more often on the streets of Gombe, Nigeria, as riders seek relief from sharply higher petrol costs. A typical bike costs about 1 million naira, or roughly $735, while owners say it can reduce fuel and maintenance expenses.
The shift followed President Bola Tinubu’s removal of Nigeria’s longstanding petrol subsidy on May 29, 2023. In Gombe, petrol now sells for about 1,365 naira per litre, compared with roughly 200 naira before the subsidy ended.
What riders say they are saving
Ayuba Abubakar, a farmer and Gombe resident, said he has used an electric motorcycle for about three months. He reported riding from Gombe to Kumo and back while using little battery power, and said he can generally travel around Gombe for a day without charging. For trips to remote areas, he charges the motorcycle.
Abubakar estimated that the bike saves him about 5,000 naira, or $3.70, each week in fuel costs. He said a charger burned out after he used it without a stabiliser, but reported no other major maintenance costs. Another rider, Ahmed Aminu, said he no longer pays for engine oil, while Yakubu Sule cited the motorcycle’s quiet operation as a reason for choosing it.
The fuel-price shock behind the change
The end of the subsidy sharply increased fuel prices and raised transport costs, putting pressure on household budgets and people who rely on motorcycles for work and daily travel. In Pantami District, electric motorcycles stand out because they produce no exhaust fumes and operate almost noiselessly compared with the petrol-powered bikes that dominate Nigerian roads.
Why electric bikes remain a niche option
Unreliable electricity is a major obstacle to wider adoption. Many Nigerian households receive only a few hours of power each day, and the country’s service-based tariff system groups customers into bands according to the amount of electricity they receive.
Muhammad Abubakar, chief executive of clean-energy company Sustenaa, said charging the motorcycles with generators would shift emissions from motorcycle exhausts to generator exhausts. He favours solar-powered battery-swap stations and called for lower import duties on electric-bike components, support for battery-swap operators, battery-recycling standards and links between electric mobility and existing solar mini-grid projects.
Affordability and infrastructure are the next tests
The purchase price remains beyond the reach of many households, despite the potential savings reported by early adopters. Wider use will also depend on charging or battery-swap infrastructure that can function despite inconsistent grid power, as well as planning for battery recycling.
The source report describes electric motorcycles as a niche option in Gombe while fuel prices remain high and battery-swap infrastructure slowly expands. It also reports that some clean-energy advocates see possible air-quality benefits if electric motorcycles eventually replace part of the commercial motorcycle fleets in cities such as Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt.
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