Abia To Launch Electric Buses

Abia State government is set to launch its electric buses under its mass transport scheme, the commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, has said.

Kanu stated this at a press conference on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor lex Otti in Umuahia, the state capital.

He said the project, which would make the state the first to launch such scheme in the country would begin with the first batch of 20 units of the buses.

His words: “The 40 seater-capacity electric buses were specifically built for Abia State. Another set of 20 buses will be received early in the new year.

“And, as  you were  informed  not too long ago, as  we transit into the new year, they will eventually increase  to about 100 in the first phase of the scheme”, he said.

Speaking, his Ministry of Transport, counterpart, Chimezie Ukaegbu, noted that the buses would provide commuters free rides during this Yuletide.

“What government is doing is to de-risk the business, reset the pace, and allow private investors or investors to come in” Ukaegbu stated.

He said the scheme is not meant to jeopardize the private sector and  that an interim charging station would be installed at the International Conference Centre for the buses.