New dawn in Abia transport sector as Otti acquires electric buses, builds bus terminal

By Steve Oko

The transport sector in Abia State is about to witness a new dawn. The Gov. Alex Otti-led administration has already initiated a bold step to revolutionalise the chaotic sector. Just last week, the much-expected electric buses for commercial transportation arrived the state. This will not only boost transportation system in the state but make it cheaper and accessible to all.

At the early days of his administration, Gov. Otti, had shortly after receiving N2 billion palliative from the Federal Government in the wake of fuel subsidy removal, hinted that the largesse would be invested in urban mass transit system. After months of strategic planning, 20 units of 40-seater electric buses arrived the state. The Chinese -made buses were supplied by the Coscharis Group, a leading automobile- marketing company in the country.

Breaking the news of the arrival of the electric buses, Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, in a statement, said ” Abia State has now, officially become the first state in Nigeria to roll out government-owned electric buses”. This development, will definitely mark the dawn of a new era in the transformation system in the state.

This, according to the Information boss: “represents a major leap in Governor Alex Otti’s modern transportation agenda”; it truly marks the beginning of the era of modern, comfortable, eco-friendly transportation system in the God’s Own State.

UMUAHIA central bus terminal under construction

The buses will be deployed for both intra and Inter-city transportation particularly connecting the commercial City of Aba with Umuahia the state capital. According to Government, each of the buses offers a 300-kilometre driving range on a single charge. Other advanced features of the buses include internal and rear cameras, mobile charging ports, disability-friendly entry systems, emergency exits, and double fire-extinguisher safety points.

Corroborating this with additional insight, the Commissioner for Transport, Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu, said the move was to make Abia a model state in transport system. He noted that apart from the initial 20 units that had been delivered to the state, there are plans to expand the fleet to over 100 buses.

“The first batch of 20 buses has arrived. The second batch of another 20 will arrive by February 2026. And we’ll keep expanding it. Our intention is for it to get up to 100 buses.”

The electric buses are expected to begin operation by the first or second week of December. This will definitely help in mitigating the ordeals of commuters who have always been at the mercy of transporters especially during festive periods.

“Hopefully by December, they will be rolled out. The Governor’s mantra was, ‘weep not, help is on the way.’ So, that help has actually come. Abians should expect more and more things.

The Commissioner allayed the fears of tricycle operators who are worried that introduction of electric buses in the state, might push them out of business. He explained that the intention is not to make life difficult for anybody but to streamline the transportation system. According to him, while the electric buses ply major routes, tricycles will concentrate on streets and suburbs.

“Tricycles are going to be. We are not putting anybody out of business.We will collaborate with them. Even the buses we are bringing in, we’re not interested in going into businesses. The only thing we are trying to do is to take the risks, and set a pace and allow them to operate.

Of course, the challenge of power instability has remained a major factor in Nigeria but the Abia State Government does not seem to be leaving anything to chances. It has already worked out a deal with Coscharis Group, to establish charging stations in the state for the buses. Alternatively, plans are under way, according to Government, to establish a mini grid solar station to ensure the buses are always on the road.

Citing integrity and capacity as part of the reasons for the choice of the automobile firm, the Commissioner said:”One of the reasons we chose Coscharis as the vendor to supply the buses is because they are world-class automobile company. They are fast in things like this. He will build charging stations for the buses.

“We also consider the support system – the maintenance, the charging, the ticketing – these are all embedded into the business. So, we are setting up charging stations. Outside using electricity to charge, we are also setting up a mini grid, solar system for charging the buses.”

Meanwhile, it makes economic sense to run the project under Public Private Partnership, PPP, arrangement, as experiences have shown that Government is not a good business manager. Supporting this argument, the Commissioner for Transport said arrangement had already been put in place to establish a bus operating company in the state where Government’s role would only be supervisory.

“We are also setting up a bus operating company. It will be run by Coscharis motors. The Ministry of Transport will monitor and supervise the operations.

“We are leading the way for others to follow. We are collaborating with the private sector, the unions”.

Interestingly, the decision of the Otti-led administration to build a central bus terminals at Umuahia and Aba respectfully, is seem by many as laudable. While the Umuahia bus terminal project in nearing completion, that of Aba is expected to be delivered in 2026.

Upon completion, the Umuahia central bus terminal located at the old site of the Urban Market, Isi- right at the City Centre Isi- Gate, will serve as a one-stop motor park in the state capital. It will not only help in improving the aesthetics of the capital city but also resolve the issue of proliferation of motor parks in the City.

It will also improve the revenue base of the state because it will be easier to generate income in one place

Should the contractor sustain the current tempo of work at the park, it may become functional before the year runs out. Commissioner for Transport also shares this optimism.

His words:” The contractor told us that Umuahia central bus terminal will be handed over before the end of this year. But Aba central park will be ready by May 2026. Umuahia bus terminal will be ready for use because extensive work is going on there now. They are working day and night to make sure they deliver. They are really working assiduously on the site. The level of completion, averagely, is over 85%.”

The decision of the State Government to relocate Umuahia railway station from its former site to the central bus terminal, also makes a lot of sense. This will make transportation in and out of the state more seamless. There is, however, concern among some residents, that traffic congestion in and around the city center particularly around Isi-Gate axis, could be a challenge when the bus terminal becomes functional.

Highlighting the merit of having both the central bus terminal and railway station in one environment, the Commissioner said:”It’s going to be a one-stop shop for transport. It is just a transport hub where you are going to have multi-modal transport system.

“Once you come into the park, within one park, one should be able to find the particular mode of transportation he or she wants to engage. The train station is going to be moved into the central bus terminal. We have had a series of meetings with the Nigerian Railway Corporation. And we have concluded that arrangement. The particular location for the train station has been allocated.

As expected from any responsible Government, the major motive for building the park should be to provide a convenient environment for commuters as well as transporters. This has equally been assured by the Transport Commissioner.

“We are building a comfortable place for them to do their business.Our state is a pro-business. We are a business friendly state. So our responsibility is to provide a conducive environment for them to operate because we actually value businesses”.

“We are innovating so many things. There are going to be new innovations in transport system. We are very capable and ready to deliver this. So, expect better things because better days are ahead.

The utra- modern bus-stops springing up at strategic locations in Aba and Umuahia, courtesy of the State Government, will definitely be a timely compatibility when eventually, the electric buses begin to ply.