Govt targets Asaba, inter-city routes as new terminals rise in Asaba and Warri
The Delta State Government says it will receive 50 Compressed Natural Gas(CNG) buses within the next four to five months as part of efforts to introduce a mass transit system across the state.
The Commissioner for Transport, Mr Onoriode Agofure, disclosed this during a media briefing on Thursday. He stated that the procurement process had commenced following Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s approval of the project.
Agofure said the buses would provide residents with a cheaper, safer, and more comfortable means of transportation on inter-city routes and within the Asaba metropolis. According to him, the government has already identified the routes on which the buses will operate to ensure efficient service when the scheme begins.
He described the 50 buses as the pilot phase of the programme, adding that more buses would be acquired if the initiative proves successful. “The approval of the 50 buses will be implemented within four to five months. These buses are meant to convey people from one point to another, providing a cheap, affordable, safe, and comfortable means of transportation within the state,” he said.
The commissioner added that the government is constructing modern bus terminals in Asaba and Warri to support the operation of the mass transit scheme. He said policies and legal frameworks are also being put in place to ensure sustainability beyond the current administration. Agofure noted the initiative would create jobs for drivers, ticketing officers, cleaners and traders operating within the terminals while boosting economic activities.
The scheme will initially focus on road transportation in upland communities, but the government plans to extend the service to riverine areas in the future. Also speaking, the Director of Vehicle Inspection Services, Engr. Vincent Ehiwario, commended the governor and commissioner for reforms including automated vehicle inspections, road safety campaigns, and plans to review transport laws for electronic enforcement and better traffic management across the state.
