Katsina Transport Pushes for Affordable Mobility

The Katsina State Transport Authority (KSTA) has announced sweeping achievements under the administration of Governor Dikko Umar Radda, unveiling a historic expansion of its fleet, massive terminal projects, and a transformative shift to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) transportation.

Speaking shortly after presenting new buses to the state governor, Umaru Dikko Radda, the managing director, Haruna Musa Rigoji, stated that the authority had procured a total of 33 brand-new Toyota Hiace 18-seater buses within the last two years, all funded through Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Fourteen buses were purchased recently, seven earlier in December 2023, and twelve in November 2024, marking what he described as an unprecedented investment in public mobility.

Beyond fleet expansion, the authority is constructing a mega permanent transport terminal in Andaguru, designed in two major phases.

Phase One carries a contract sum of N724 million, of which N519 million has already been paid, leaving a balance of N205 million. Phase Two, a larger N1.9 billion project, received a significant boost when Governor Radda approved N1 billion as intervention support, directing the agency to complete the remaining N900 million from its IGR.

“These milestones are only possible because His Excellency provided the enabling environment and the policies that drive efficiency,” he said, stressing that the governor’s guidance and timely advice have remained central to the agency’s progress.

The authority has also undertaken major infrastructure upgrades, including the construction of new substations in Tamashi and Ingawa, as well as the full renovation of facilities in Dusamma and significant improvements at the Daura substation.

In human capital development, the MD revealed that no fewer than 20 staff members are currently pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate studies, an investment aimed at strengthening the organisation’s technical and administrative capacity.

He also thanked members of the press for their role in constructive feedback and acknowledged the staff whose efforts drive the authority’s achievements.

“I cannot do it alone, most of the work you see is implemented by our committed staff”, he added.

He further appreciated the people of Katsina and even non-residents whose patronage sustains the agency’s revenue.

A standout development is the authority’s groundbreaking shift to cleaner, cheaper energy.

The MD confirmed that KSTA has successfully converted some of its buses from fossil fuel to CNG, with the conversion carried out by its own engineers trained at the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria.

He noted that the state government has already allocated land for Greenville and other gas investors, reinforcing a long-term commitment to gas-powered transportation.

With its expanding infrastructure, growing fleet, trained personnel, and bold embrace of greener energy, the Katsina State Transport Authority claims to be positioning itself as a model for efficient, affordable, and future-ready public transport in Nigeria.

The State Governor Radda thanked the transport authority for the effort put in transforming the sector, which is in line with his administration mandate for the people of Katsina State.