WTO Urges African Leaders To Sustain Fight Against Pollution

Director-general (DG) of World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has urged African leaders to sustain the global fight against pollution and climate change.

Okonjo-Iweala made the call yesterday after inaugurating the first set of 20 electric buses acquired by the Abia State government for mass transit scheme in Umuahia, the state capital

She said the initiative would contribute to cleaner air and healthier environment on the continent and congratulated Governor Alex Otti and the government for the event.

In his address, Otti said the scheme, tagged, “Abia Green Shuttle Electric Buses” is part of his administration’s effort to reduce carbon emissions and promote eco-friendly transportation.

His words, “This scheme, which began as a plan to procure Compressed Natural Gas Buses, was upgraded to electric vehicles in line with the world’s transition towards net-zero emissions.

The president/CEO of Coscharis Group, the manufacturer of the buses, Cosmos Maduka, speaking, said the state is the first in the country to launch such scheme with the buses.

‎Maduka noted that beyond environmental benefits, the buses would deliver long-term economic benefits, including job creation, skills development and other social gains

‎Earlier in his remarks, the commissioner for Transport, Chimezie Ukaegbu, described the event as a milestone in the state’s transport evolution., attributing it to Otti’s leadership ingenuity

‎Ukaegbu added that, beyond environmental benefits, the buses would deliver long-term economic benefits, including job creation, skills development, and other social gains.