Oyo state Government has approved the sum of N750,000 for the procurement of 60 bicycles for conveyance of civil servants at the state Secretariat to Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
The bicycles according to the Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, Hon. Seun Ashamu would be known as “Keke Seyi” and its pilot scheme would be within three months.
He made this known on Tuesday while addressing newsmen after the state executive council meeting.
The Commissioner disclosed that the Council also gave approval for the provision of urgent power intervention at the Rural Community Development Centre (RCDC), Awe, which is one of the hubs for the agric-business development of the administration.
He said while the ‘tribrid’ solar intervention for the RCDC is put at a cost of N92million, the Keke-Seyi initiative will cost the state N750, 000.
Ashamu said “At the Executive Council meeting held today (Tuesday), the Council resolved that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources will provide an urgent intervention at the Rural Community Development Centre (RCDC), Awe, which is one of the hubs for the agric-business development of this administration.
“It was resolved that the Ministry should provide a tribrid system comprising solar, diesel generator and battery storage for RCDC, Awe, Afijio local government.
“Secondly, the council also approved the implementation of a Bicycle drive codenamed ‘Keke-Seyi’. The bicycles will be piloted in collaboration with Our Bike Nigeria, an indigenous company who has offered the state its services to come and pilot a Bike –Sharing Scheme within the secretariat initially. With this, there will be bicycles available for use by the members of the public and staff of the state.
“The RCDC solar intervention is put at a cost of N92million while the Keke-Seyi initiative will cost the state N750, 000.
“They will be providing us with 60 bicycles for the pilot which will last for a period of three months initially.”
Justifying the need for the bicycle scheme, Ashamu said “we have members of the public that comes into the secretariat at the moment and they walk around. We also have members of the public who for one reason or the other will have to drive for a short journey within the secretariat.
“So the bicycles are there to promote a number of things, ease of mobility within the secretariat, they are there to promote healthy living. Particularly when you consider the interesting circumstances that we find ourselves in the world today and with people’s lives and livelihood.
“It is a bike-sharing scheme, what that means is that you can actually enter into the secretariat through any of the main entrances, pick up a bicycle and ride it to wherever it is that you are going. The bicycles will also be made available to the ministries, departments and agencies so that members of staff can also use the bicycles.
“There are protocols and procedures that guide the use of bicycles. It is a bike-sharing scheme that has been in Europe and North America long before we brought it to Africa and the company we partner with is already operating in about 16 locations in Nigeria.
“We will ensure that all health and safety measures are put in place to ensure that we won’t accelerate or contribute to the spread of the novel Coronavirus.”
