By ABIA State has announced plans to roll out the first batch of its state-owned electric buses under the Abia Mass Transit Scheme, a move that would make it the first state in Nigeria to operate a government-owned electric bus transport system.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday at the Government House, Umuahia, while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
According to him, the first set of 20 electric buses arrived in the state in November. He said the 40-seater buses were specially built for Abia State, adding that another batch of 20 buses is expected early in the new year.
“As you were informed not too long ago, as we transit into the new year, the current number of 20 buses will eventually increase to about 100 buses in the first phase of the scheme,” Prince Kanu said.
The Commissioner also announced that Governor Otti will on Tuesday, December 16, unveil the Abia State 25-Year Development Plan, described as a strategic and future-proof document designed to chart a deliberate and transformative roadmap for the state.
He further revealed that the Governor has assented to the Abia State Start-up Bill, a legal framework aimed at fostering innovation, supporting tech-enabled start-ups, nurturing digital talents and positioning Abia as a leading technology hub in the country.
Prince Kanu also disclosed that the graduation ceremony for the second cohort of the Abia Tech-Rise ICT training programme will hold on Saturday, December 20, during which 850 youths will be certified. He noted that this will bring the total number of beneficiaries who have graduated under the scheme to 1,399.
On the health sector, he said the Abia State Global Medical Mission commenced on Monday, December 15, across five centres in the state. The medical outreach, a collaboration between the Abia State Government and Abia Diaspora Medical Personnel, will run until December 20 at the Abia Specialist Hospital, Umuahia; Uzuakoli Methodist Hospital; Okoko Item Adult Care Centre; Seventh-Day Adventist Diagnostic Centre, Ogbor Hill, Aba; and Ahiaeke Medical Centre.
Prince Kanu added that in line with the administration’s infrastructural development agenda, the Ministry of Works carried out projects at 54 direct labour locations across the state during the period under review. He said two roads have been completed, while work is ongoing at 32 project sites across the three senatorial zones.
He also assured that security agencies in the state have been placed on 24-hour alert to protect lives and property during and after the Yuletide, urging residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.
Speaking on the electric bus initiative, the Commissioner for Transport, Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu, described the first phase of the project as a pilot scheme. He said an interim charging station would be installed at the International Conference Centre.
Dr Ukaegbu added that the electric buses would offer free rides to commuters during the Yuletide period.
“We are not introducing this to take away businesses from private operators. What government is doing is to de-risk the business, reset the pace, and allow private investors to come in,” he said.
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