Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Akwa Ibom State has moved to align with Nigeria’s clean energy transition goals by approving the purchase of Ibom CNG Mass Transit buses under its newly passed N695 billion supplementary budget.
The initiative, officials say, will cut transport costs, reduce emissions, and boost economic opportunities across the state.
The decision was reached at the State Executive Council meeting in Uyo, presided over by Governor Umo Eno, who described the CNG programme as a “deliberate step” to modernise the state’s transportation system.
“Our investment in Ibom CNG Mass Transit buses is a deliberate step to provide affordable transport, reduce emissions, and create jobs,” Governor Eno told Council members.
With the approval, the state’s 2025 budget has now risen to N1.65 trillion, combining recurrent and capital expenditures. A significant portion of the new funds will support infrastructure upgrades, but the CNG transport scheme is among the flagship projects earmarked for urgent implementation.
The move places Akwa Ibom among the first sub-nationals to adopt compressed natural gas at scale, dovetailing with the Federal Government’s Presidential CNG Initiative and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s Mobility-CNG drive launched earlier this year. Both programmes aim to deepen domestic gas utilisation and reduce reliance on petrol.
Governor Eno emphasised that the new fleet would support both economic and environmental objectives.
“We must key into alternative energy solutions that are sustainable. These buses will not only ease transportation challenges but also support the federal government’s CNG agenda and help our people embrace cheaper and cleaner fuel,” he said.
Beyond transport, the supplementary budget also provides for emergency flood control, housing estates, the Arise Shopping City, and capital provisions for new aircraft. But the CNG initiative stands out as a symbol of Akwa Ibom’s commitment to sustainable energy.
State officials say the Ibom CNG Mass Transit scheme will directly benefit commuters struggling with high transport costs due to volatile petrol prices.
“This programme is about affordability and access. By switching to CNG, we’re putting money back into the pockets of our citizens while supporting Nigeria’s gas revolution,” one senior government source told SweetCrude Reports.
The council meeting also declared a state of emergency in the health sector, approving the recruitment of 2,000 health workers and the upgrade of facilities across the state. Yet energy watchers say the CNG transport programme may prove equally transformative if implemented effectively.
Nigeria has in recent months intensified its push for wider CNG adoption. In June, NNPC Ltd. partnered with stakeholders at the Mobility-CNG Workshop in Abuja to scale infrastructure and financing for CNG vehicles, calling it “a driver of affordability and sustainability in the transport sector.”
Akwa Ibom’s entry into the programme signals growing sub-national ownership of this agenda.
Governor Eno summed up the policy direction by reaffirming that every investment must work for Akwa Ibom people.
“Every kobo must work for Akwa Ibom people. Our CNG mass transit programme is one of the many initiatives to make life easier while aligning with sustainable energy solutions,” he declared.
This article was originally posted at sweetcrudereports.com
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