As Gas Prices Soar, Electric Motorcycles Gain Ground in Nigeria

In Gombe, Nigeria, motorcycles carrying students, workers, and traders are a familiar sight on the streets of the Pantami district. But a growing number of these bikes glide by almost silently — a sign that change here is driven not by climate policy, but by soaring petrol prices.

Since President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of the fuel subsidy in May 2023, gasoline prices in Nigeria have surged. In Gombe, a liter of petrol now costs around 1,365 naira (about $1), up from roughly 200 naira (15 cents) previously. This has pushed transportation costs higher and strained household budgets across the country.

In this context, electric motorcycles are emerging in Gombe as a way for people to ease the burden. An electric bike costs around 1 million naira (about $735) — still a significant sum for many — but those who have made the switch say they save considerably on fuel and maintenance.

Ayuba Abubakar, a farmer in Gombe, told Al Jazeera he has been riding an electric motorcycle for about three months and has not encountered the mechanical issues common with petrol bikes. He estimates saving roughly 5,000 naira ($3.70) per week on fuel. “Even with those savings, the price of the bike still needs to come down for most Nigerians to afford one,” he added.

Another electric bike rider, Ahmed Aminu, said he no longer spends money on engine lubricating oil. Yakubu Sule, also an electric motorcycle owner, chose the vehicle largely because it runs smoothly and quietly.

Still, unreliable power remains the biggest barrier to widespread use of electric motorcycles in Nigeria. Many households have electricity for only a few hours a day. Muhammad Abubakar, CEO of clean energy company Sustenaa, warned: “If we charge these bikes with generators, what is the point? We are just moving emissions from the exhaust pipe to the generator’s chimney.”

Abubakar suggested that solar-powered battery swapping is a more feasible option than charging at home. He also called on the government to reduce import duties on electric motorcycle components, support battery-swap station operators, set battery recycling standards, and integrate electric vehicles into existing mini-grid solar projects.

For now, electric motorcycles remain a niche choice in Gombe. But with petrol prices staying high and battery-swap infrastructure slowly expanding, the quiet bikes on the streets could be a sign that economic pressure is beginning to reshape transportation in Nigeria. Abubakar emphasized: “When you look at the number of smoky motorcycles daily in Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt, the level of air pollution is alarming. Even if we start with a small fraction of the commercial fleet, air quality could improve significantly in a relatively short time.”