Abia Govt increases number of electric buses to be introduced in the first phase of its mass transport scheme

A few months after pronouncing its intention to introduce the use of electric buses in the State with 20 for the take off, Abia State Government has announced an increase from 20 to 40 buses for the mass transit programme.

Addressing Newsmen after this week’s State Executive council meeting, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, further made public that the number of charging stations has also been increased from 10 to 20.

While assuring that the first 20 buses would arrive in November this year, Prince Kanu said 12 would operate in Aba and 8 in Umuahia, arguing that the introduction will strengthen the ongoing revolutionary transformation of the transport sector of the state.

He also announced that the State Government, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, in collaboration with Ethnocentric Ltd., has onboarded 1,200 Abia youths for the second cohort of the Fashion Future Skills Acquisition Programme in garments and leather works.

The Commissioner explained that the programme is designed to equip the youths with skills in garment making and leather works, adding that the programme has attracted over $3 million worth of sponsorship funding from MasterCard Foundation.

Prince Kanu noted that the huge injection of sponsorship funds into the State’s economy is due to the sterling governance credentials of Governor Alex Otti and how the State is currently perceived in Nigeria and around the world,

He further revealed 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.

Prince Kanu added 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, pointing out that a number of activities have been lined up for the celebration, including Youth Assembly, Symposium, Interstate Youth Exchange Visits, among others.

The Commissioner also made public that, the Abia State Government has procured a wheelchair-accessible bus for the transportation of physically challenged athletes, for use during the upcoming International Sports Championship scheduled for the 3rd of September to 12th of October 2025, adding that members of the victorious Falcons from Abia, who have returned to their clubs in Europe, would be hosted by Governor Otti, later in the year.