Wednesday July 1, 2026
www.thenewsdesk.ng
By Promzy Umoh
Joun Journalist and civil society stakeholders have commended Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for the arrival of the first batch of brand-new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, describing the initiative as a bold step towards transforming the state’s public transportation system.
The commendation came on Tuesday , July 1,2026 ,during an inspection of the newly delivered buses at the Government House parking facility in Uyo, where members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), civil society representatives inspected 20 of the 50 buses procured by the state government as part of its integrated mass transit programme.
Speaking during the inspection, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Nsibiet John, lauded Governor Umo Eno for prioritising quality and investing in a transportation system that will benefit residents across the state.
“On behalf of my colleagues, I want to thank His Excellency for bringing this to our people. I must say the Governor loves standard, and this is standard,” he said.
The NUJ Chairman encouraged young people in the state to take advantage of opportunities that would emerge from the project by acquiring the technical skills required to operate and maintain the modern transport system.
He also appreciated the Commissioner for Information for granting journalists unrestricted access to inspect the buses, noting that firsthand inspection would enable the media to provide accurate information to members of the public.
Speaking during the inspection, the Chairman of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Barr. Clifford Thomas, commended Governor Umo Eno for the initiative, describing the acquisition of the CNG buses as a bold and forward-looking investment in the state’s transportation sector.
He noted that the integrated mass transit system would significantly ease transportation challenges, improve mobility for residents and reduce the cost of commuting across Akwa Ibom State.
Barr. Thomas, however, urged the state government to put in place a sustainable maintenance and management framework to ensure the buses are properly maintained and remain operational for many years.
Addressing journalists, the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Aniekan Umanah, explained that the inspection was organised following a request by the NUJ Chairman to verify the arrival of the buses amid public speculation.
“We came here on the request of the Chairman of the NUJ to see for himself, and for all of us, the new CNG buses brought in by His Excellency, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, for the mass transportation system he is putting in place. This transport system will cover the 31 Local Government Areas and move our people seamlessly using these CNG buses.”
Dr. Umanah disclosed that Governor Umo Eno approved the procurement of 50 CNG buses, with 20 already delivered to the state while the remaining units are expected after the completion of production and shipping processes.
“Today, 20 of those brand new buses are on ground here in the Government House parking bay. Many people have been wondering whether these buses are real. Here are the buses, gentlemen of the press.
“They are brand-new manufactured buses. For those who have gone about claiming that these are refurbished buses, let me state clearly that they are marchants of falsehood. These are brand-new buses produced specifically for Akwa Ibom State.”
He further revealed that construction of the state’s central transport terminal at Ikot Akpe is progressing steadily and will serve as the operational hub of the integrated transport system.
According to him, the facility will include passenger terminals, a drivers’ academy, maintenance workshops, car wash facilities, CNG refuelling stations and other supporting infrastructure required for efficient operations.
“We are about entering an era of efficient and effective mass transportation for the people of Akwa Ibom State,” he declared.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Luke, commended Governor Umo Eno for his visionary leadership and commitment to providing a transportation system that meets global standards while improving mobility and reducing transportation costs for residents.
Providing further insight into the procurement process, Mr. Ime Uwah said Governor Umo Eno insisted on quality throughout the acquisition process, leading government officials to travel to Turkey to inspect the buses before payment was made.
“For me, His Excellency Governor Umo Eno stands for quality and standard because these Isuzu buses, he made sure we went for this particular brand. We travelled to Turkey to inspect them before payment was made, ensuring that they met exactly what we wanted.”
Mr. Uwah added that Alpha Dias Project Limited has been engaged to manage the transport system for the first two years to ensure professional and efficient operations.
“His Excellency wants experienced hands and experts to operate these buses before they are eventually handed over for broader local management. The first two years will therefore be managed under contract by Alpha Dias.”
Speaking on the technical features of the fleet, the Chief Executive Officer of Alpha Dias Project Limited, Mr. Alex , dismissed claims that the buses were converted diesel vehicles.
He explained that the buses are original factory-built CNG vehicles powered by Cummins CNG engines and specifically designed for natural gas operations.
“Many CNG buses operating in Nigeria and across West Africa are diesel buses converted to run on gas. These buses are different. They were designed and manufactured from the factory specifically as CNG buses, making the Akwa Ibom fleet one of the most advanced public transport fleets on the African continent.”
He disclosed that the integrated transport network will connect all 31 Local Government Areas through carefully planned routes linking major commercial centers
He added that transport terminals under construction will feature modern passenger facilities, maintenance centres, driver training schools and CNG refuelling stations to support efficient and sustainable operations.
Members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and representatives of civil society organisations were later taken on a demonstration ride aboard the new CNG buses, where they experienced firsthand the comfort, spacious interiors, modern safety features and smooth, quiet operation of the factory-built vehicles.
The inspection reinforced confidence in the state’s integrated transport initiative and underscored the government’s commitment to delivering a safe, affordable, environmentally friendly and world-class mass transportation system that will serve residents across all 31 Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State.
