Federal civil servants are set for a major transport relief as the Federal Government has unveiled 100 electric buses under its Renewed Hope Mass Transit Programme aimed at cutting commuting costs and improving workers’ welfare.
The first batch of the initiative, comprising 37 electric buses, was commissioned on Wednesday at Eagle Square, Abuja, in what the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, described as a major boost for public workers.
The launch came barely 24 hours before Walson-Jack bowed out as Head of Service, with her describing the project as her “parting gift” to civil servants.
She said the buses were introduced to tackle the daily transportation struggles faced by workers, noting that long and costly commutes had affected their finances, safety, punctuality and productivity.
According to her, the electric buses would help civil servants save money, reduce the risks associated with daily travel and arrive at work with improved energy to deliver better services.
She disclosed that the buses would begin operations through a pilot phase on selected routes before a wider rollout, adding that they would eventually serve Federal Secretariats across the country.
To ensure the project’s sustainability, she said a Special Purpose Vehicle had been created to oversee the management, maintenance and long-term operation of the buses.
The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, described the project as more than just a transport scheme, saying it represented a combination of workers’ welfare, technology, industrial growth and job creation.
Enoh revealed that each electric bus could carry up to 200 passengers and cover at least 200 kilometres on a full charge.
He praised the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and other stakeholders involved in the project, urging local manufacturers to deepen investment in electric vehicle production and boost Nigerian content.
Meanwhile, NADDC Director-General Olu Osanipin announced that the deployment marked the beginning of a phased rollout, with the full fleet of 100 electric buses expected to hit the roads by December 2026.
The Federal Government said the initiative was part of efforts to ensure that its economic reforms translate into improved infrastructure, more jobs and better living conditions for Nigerians.
