The Ekiti State Government has commenced the deployment of 15 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses as part of measures to reduce transportation costs and ease the financial burden on residents.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji flagged off the buses at the premises of the Ekiti State Transportation Agency in Ado-Ekiti, describing the deployment as the pilot phase of a broader initiative aimed at making public transportation more affordable and accessible. The buses were donated to the state by the Federal Government.
Oyebanji said the administration was targeting a 50 per cent reduction in transportation costs, urging transport unions to ensure that the savings achieved through the use of CNG are passed directly to commuters. He said the initiative was part of efforts to cushion the impact of transportation costs on residents and respond to the Federal Government’s directive to state governments to explore measures for reducing fares.
The governor, who was accompanied by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the buses. He said the intervention would help reduce the transportation burden on residents, while assuring that the state would work towards expanding the fleet to reach more commuters.
According to the Director-General of the Ekiti State Transportation Agency, Tajudeen Akingbolu, routes have been mapped out for the buses to operate between Ado-Ekiti and major cities including Lagos, Ibadan, Onitsha and Abuja. The service is expected to provide more affordable interstate transportation while helping to ease the pressure of high transport fares.
The flag-off coincided with activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary and the 30th anniversary of Ekiti State. The state government said the CNG bus scheme would be expanded as part of its broader efforts to improve affordable public transportation and reduce the cost of movement for residents.
