Delta to purchase 50 CNG buses, electric vehicles, build mega bus terminals

DELTA State government is set to purchase 50 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, acquire electric vehicles and construct an ultramodern mega bus terminal in Asaba as part of efforts to improve public transportation in the state.

Approvals to that effect were among the key decisions reached at the state executive council meeting in Asaba.

According to the Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Onoriode Agofure who spoke to newsmen after the meeting, the CNG buses will form the backbone of the state’s MORE Mass Transit Scheme, aimed at providing safe, affordable and efficient transportation for residents.

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Agofure disclosed that the mega bus terminal in Asaba will serve as the operational hub for the state’s mass transit system.

He said the terminal will help eliminate the numerous roadside and informal motor parks around the Koka Junction area, thereby improving traffic management and enhancing the aesthetics of the state capital.

Land for the project, he said, has been acquired, and necessary processes are underway to commence construction.

He explained that when completed, all existing mushroom parks, including those operated by private transport operators, will be relocated to the new facility.

The commissioner added that a similar bus terminal will be developed in Warri, noting that the Federal Government had approved the project, following the intervention of Governor Sherif Oborevwori.

He said a comprehensive transportation study carried out in major cities in the state, including Warri, Asaba, Ughelli, Agbor, Sapele, Abraka and Oleh revealed that an average of over 19,000 people move around the state daily, with about 80 percent of commuters depending on public transportation, while only 20 percent rely on private vehicles.

Agofure said the findings underscored the need for government to strengthen the state’s public transport system to meet the needs of the residents.

He noted that Oborevwori recognised transportation as a critical sector that drives economic and social activities, stressing that movement of people and goods is essential for commerce, education and access to workplaces.