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From Idu Jude, Abuja
The government of Abia State says that plans have reached an advanced stage in introducing electric vehicles for a modernised transportation system that will ensure zero emissions and enhance a clean and green economy.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu, made the revelation to Business Sun while attending the 2025 edition of the National Transport Conference (NTC) organised by CIOTA in Abuja.
Dr. Chimezie said that Abia State is hugely investing in transportation with the resolve that it is the backbone that provides support to other key sectors of the economy.
He said it would come into fruition with the introduction of innovations in transportation, which is the electric vehicle system. “What the governor is doing is to ensure that we have a support system. What Abia State government is doing quite differently from the others is that the state is keying in to the modern urban mass transport systems, and I can tell you that by next month, the State is rolling out an electric vehicle system. We did not go into compressed natural gas (CNG). Yes, the CNG is good, but it has its own defects and disadvantages. And one thing we have to know is that in CNG, emission is reduced by just 38 per cent, but electric vehicles are at zero emissions.
“Other disadvantages of CNG are that whenever you have it, you will also think of sources of supply, which is a huge problem because for any state to run an effective CNG programme, it must have a mother station built in the state. And outside the mother station, there is a need to set up sub-stations to serve as filling or retail stations. And of course, you must also have a good support system, like a conversation centre. So some of these are drawbacks in CNG innovations. On the contrary, the electric vehicles only need a battery recharging station.”
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In other areas, he further stated that the Abia State Government has the resolve for infrastructural development.
“Let me tell you that our roads and other infrastructure are fantastic. And I can tell you that my Governor is quite intentional in making sure that there are good roads, and of course we understand businesses. Our government is a pro-business government and if one produces and do not distribute, it means you have not produced and when you deal with the marketing principles you talk of the 4 Ds and the last D, is the distribution mechanism which means that every good produced must be distributed through the means of transportation to get to its final destination or the product will become useless.”
Moreso, he indicated that the government is presently setting up bus terminals across the state to aid the transport sector. He said, “This will be a one-stop transport hub. It is going to be the interconnectivity of all the intermodal transport systems. It is going to be a place one enters and can access all the transportation models including car, rail, and it is quite different from what others are doing or have done.
“To harness these systems, he revealed that the state has put a very strong transport regulation to minimise accidents, and, of course, to attract revenue for the state. However, he noted that the state remains a social services provider that does not demand much from the governed.
“So all we are doing is to alleviate pains from the people as promised by the Governor during his political campaign. So the main purpose is to introduce the ease of doing business because a good transport system opens the city, it attracts investors, and helps businesses grow.
“And we believe that for any state to grow, there will be an enabler to boost private investment. On the maintenance, it is not as if we give these facilities away for free, no, but it shall be at a subsidised rate,” he said.
