Abia State Government during this week’s Executive Council meeting increased the number of electric buses to be procured for the state’s mass transit programme from 20 to 40.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu while briefing the press on the outcome of the meeting, at Government House, Umuahia, said, apart from the increase in the number of the electric buses, the number of charging stations have also been increased from 10 to 20.
The Commissioner, who stated that
the first 20 buses would arrive in November this year, said 12 out of the initial 20 buses would operate in Aba and 8 in Umuahia, noting that the arrival of the buses will strengthen the ongoing revolutionary transformation of the transport sector of the state.
Prince Kanu also announced that the State Government, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, in collaboration with Ethnocentric Ltd., has onboarded 1,200 Abia youths for the second cohort of the Fashion Future Skills Acquisition Programme in garments and leather works.
He said that the programme is designed to equip the youths with skills in garment making and leather works, adding that the programme has attracted over $3 million worth of sponsorship funding from MasterCard Foundation.
The information Commissioner said that the huge injection of sponsorship funds into the State’s economy is due to the sterling governance credentials of Governor Alex Otti and how the State is currently perceived in Nigeria and around the world.
He also said that the Abia State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, in collaboration with the State Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, has launched an ambitious Abia State Creative Talent Hunt initiative designed to empower young innovators and talents in music.
Prince Kanu added that the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development is working assiduously towards the celebration of this year’s Youth Day, slated for the 6th to 12th of August 2025, pointing out that a number of activities have been lined up for the celebration, including Youth Assembly, Symposium, Interstate Youth Exchange Visits, among others.
He further informed that, the Abia State Government has procured a wheelchair-accessible bus for the transportation of physically challenged athletes for use during the upcoming International Sports Championship scheduled for the 3rd of September to 12th of October 2025, adding that the victorious FALCONETS from Abia, who have returned to their clubs in Europe, would be hosted by Governor Otti, later in the year.
The Commissioners for Youth and Sports Development, Sir Nwaobilor Ananaba, his Arts, Culture and Creative Arts counterpart, Mr Matthew Ekwuribe, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information, Sir Chris Onwuegbu and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ukoha Njoku Ukoha were part of the briefing.
