The Abia State Government has announced the conversion of its Free Green Shuttle mass transit scheme into a fare-paying service, while maintaining a 50 per cent subsidy for commuters.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists at the Government House in Umuahia after the State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.
Kanu explained that the transition to the commercial service took effect from March 1, 2026, noting that the subsidy applies to both inter-city and intra-city routes operated under the state’s bus scheme.
“The subsidy applies to all inter- and intra-city routes currently covered by the bus service scheme,” Kanu said.
“This transition is an important step aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability and operational efficiency of the transport system.”
According to him, the commercialisation of the mass transit programme will also introduce an electronic ticketing system through the Abia Connect Card, which commuters will use to access the buses.
“With the commercialisation of the mass transit scheme, e-ticketing allows commuters to use the Abia Connect Card, while obtaining the Abia State Social Insurance Number is a requirement for getting the card,” he stated.
Kanu added that the Ministry of Transport, alongside other agencies such as the Harmonised Task Force, Homeland Security, and the Abia State Road Traffic Management Agency, had begun stakeholder engagements and sensitisation campaigns across the state.
“These agencies have been carrying out joint sensitisation and enforcement exercises to guide commuters at bus stops and bus shelters across Umuahia and Aba,” he said.
To support the implementation process, the commissioner said enumerators had been deployed to bus shelters to assist passengers in registering for the system.
“ABSSIN enumerators have been stationed at different bus shelters and designated areas to help commuters register,” he explained.
“In the same way, touch-and-pay agents responsible for loading funds onto the Abia Connect Cards have also been deployed to these locations.”
Kanu revealed that the state currently has 70 bus shelters, with 30 located in Umuahia and 40 in Aba.
He added that all shelters in Umuahia are operational, while 38 in Aba are in use and two others will soon be completed.
Providing further updates, the commissioner said that 202,601 passengers had used the mass transit buses between December 24, 2025, when the scheme was launched, and March 8, 2026.
He also announced that the state government would soon roll out the third phase of the Techrise youth empowerment programme, aimed at equipping young people with digital skills.
“So far, about 1,350 youths have been trained under the first two cohorts of the programme,” he said, adding that a registration portal for the next phase would soon be opened.
On infrastructure development, Kanu disclosed that 22.5 kilometres of the final section of the Uzuakoli–Akara–Ohafia Road had been completed, while construction work was ongoing at 31 different project locations across the state.
He noted that additional road projects were also being handled through direct labour in several parts of the state.
“The reconstruction of the 1.25-kilometre Madonna Hospital Road off Aba Road in Umuahia has been completed,” he said.
“Four new projects have also been added to the maintenance portfolio of the Ministry of Works.”
Speaking on the new transport system, the Commissioner for Transport, Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, said the programme was still in its pilot stage and would continue to improve over time.
They explained that the initiative was designed to streamline transportation services, reduce irregularities in the transport sector and address the problem of extortion by some commercial vehicle operators.
“The system is still at the pilot stage and will improve over time,” they said.
“The goal is to reduce distortions in the transport sector and curb unnecessary extortion by commercial vehicle and tricycle operators while providing better services for residents.”
