By Izuchukwu Nwokoma
The Commissioner for Transport in Abia State, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu, says the purpose of building bus terminals in the state is to establish a central parking system across Abia.
He said the bus terminal in Umuahia and the one ongoing in Aba will serve as one-stop transport hubs and a multimodal transport system that will guarantee easy movement to any part of the state and the country.
Ukaegbu disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the activities of his ministry ahead of May 29th anniversary.
He said the ministry has been alive to its mandate of formulating, implementing, and regulating transport policies and systems in Abia State.
As part of efforts to make the bus terminals function effectively and to ensure a safe, efficient, and affordable transport network for Abians, he said the state government introduced electric buses and EV vehicles.
According to him, the electric buses rolled out in December began with free rides for Abians and non-Abians within a defined period up to February 28, 2026. From March 1, the system was commercialised.
“We transitioned from free rides to fare charges. We introduced an e-ticketing system where payment of fares is smart in nature. To ride in one of the buses, you need to obtain the AbiaConnect card, which is issued free of charge. This was made very seamless by going to http://www.abiapay.com. Once a person gets the AbiaConnect card, they can fund it. Of course, we made staff available to help commuters fund their cards. That is when you will be enabled to ride on the buses,” he said.
Ukaegbu said the buses are comfortable, fully air-conditioned, and equipped with CCTV cameras and video screens. As passengers travel, they can watch videos and charge their phones.
“There are USB connections in them. Presently, we have 20 of them in the fleet. The government intends to bring in another 20 shortly, then 30, and before the end of this year, we should have about 100 buses in the fleet. As the additional buses come, we will expand the routes where these buses will ply,” he said.
He said a smart traffic management system is also in place, stressing that the streetlights are AI-driven and help ease traffic and prevent congestion in Umuahia and Aba.
Speaking further on the importance of the bus terminals, Ukaegbu said they will curb the proliferation of parks scattered across Umuahia and Aba.
“The idea is that you have keke, minibuses, luxurious buses, cars, and other means of transportation. The essence is for all the parks to be centralised in one place, so we can avoid the proliferation of parks littered all over the town,” he said.
“We started operations at this bus terminal on Monday, May 18, 2026. It is a phased process. We have already started with the green buses. By May 23, the informal transport operators will be relocated here. And on May 25, the formal transport operators will join. We have made everything possible for the smooth running of this place.”
To ensure proper management, Ukaegbu revealed that the state government handed over the facility to a facility management company to maintain and operate the terminal.
He said the Ministry of Transport is also carrying out reforms of its various affiliates to improve efficiency and serve the people better.
Ukaegbu said the Governor Alex Otti-led administration is passionate about developing all known transportation routes, saying plans are underway to kickstart a deep seaport in the state.
“The government has commissioned consultants to do feasibility studies on this, and as we speak, the studies are ongoing. Once concluded, the project will kick off immediately,” he said.
He also revealed plans by the state government to revive the railway system, emphasising that Governor Otti intends to connect the local governments to improve interconnectivity. The state is working in collaboration with the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
“We have had several engagements with the MD and the team from the Nigerian Railway Corporation. Currently, the federal government is laying sleepers and rail tracks on the narrow gauge from Port Harcourt. They have laid the tracks up to Aba, and they are proceeding to Umuahia and beyond. Once that is done, there will be interconnectivity within the states and local governments,” he said.
Ukaegbu also gave an update on the construction of the Abia Airport at Nsulu, saying runway construction is ongoing. “Payment of compensation is still ongoing. The majority, if not everyone, has been paid. This is also to ensure we have a good transport system for our people.”
He said the availability of these modes of transport will help boost businesses in the state, in line with Governor Otti’s vision.
He added that the commissioning of the Umuahia Bus Terminal will be done on or before May 29, 2026, insisting that all arrangements have been concluded to ensure the relocation process is rancour-free and seamless.