Abia State Government (ABSG) has increased the number of electric buses it earlier slated to procure for the state mass transit programme from 20 to 40.
The decision was approved during Monday weekly state executive council meeting after which the state Information Commissioner, Prince Okey Kanu so informed journalists.
He said that, apart from the increase in the number of the electric buses, the number of Charging Stations have also been increased from 10 to 20, adding that the first 20 buses would arrive in November 2025, and that while 12 of them will operate in Aba, 8 will do so in Umuahia, the state capital.
He said ” the executive Council also approved the increase in the number of electric buses to be procured for the state’s mass transit programme to 40.
“From the additional 20 buses ordered by the state government, some will operate on Ohafia – Bende axis of the state. One bus sample was ready for inspection by the end of July.
“The arrival of these buses will no doubt strengthen the ongoing revolutionary transformation of the transport sector of the state.
“The construction of a state of the art bus terminals in Aba and Umuahia is equally ongoing, while addition, the junction improvement work is ongoing even as bus shelters are springing up at designated routes in Umuahia and Aba,”
Other decisions taken at the said meeting according to Commissioner Kanu, included; that the State Government, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, in collaboration with Ethnocentric Ltd., has on-boarded 1,200 Abia youths for the second cohort of the Fashion Future Skills Acquisition Programme in garments and leather works.
“This programme is designed to equip our youths with skills in garment making and leather works. The programme so far has attracted over $3 million worth of sponsorship funding from MasterCard Foundation.
” This huge injection of sponsorship funds into the Abia State economy is due largely because of the sterling governance credentials of His Excellency Dr. Alex Otti, and how the Abia State is currently perceived, not just in Nigeria but around the world,” Prince Kanu noted.
Kanu also said that the Abia State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, in collaboration with the State Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, has launched an ambitious Abia State Creative Talent Hunt initiative designed to empower young innovators and talents in music.
Adding that the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development is working assiduously towards the celebration of this year’s Youth Day slated for the 6th to 12th of August 2025, Kanu further told the journalists that a number of activities have been lined up for the celebration,namely, Youth Assembly, Symposium, and Interstate Youth Exchange Visits, among others.
For Persons with Disabilities ( PWDs ) he disclosed that Government has procured a wheelchair-accessible bus for the transportation of physically challenged athletes, for their use during the upcoming International Sports Championship scheduled to hold 3rd September to 12th of October 2025.
According to him,the victorious FALCONETS from Abia, who have returned to their clubs in Europe, would be hosted by the state Governor Dr Alex Otti, later in the year.
