Idara Jerome, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State government on Thursday took Journalists on a tour to access and inspect the recently acquired fleet of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses.
The assessment tour, held at Government House, Uyo, was organised following a request by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, to inspect the buses after their arrival in the state.
Leading the exercise, the Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Umanah, said the government considered it important to allow independent verification of the project by the media to ensure that members of the public receive accurate information.
He dismissed claims that the buses were refurbished, insisting that they were brand-new, factory-built vehicles manufactured specifically for Akwa Ibom at the Isuzu production facility in Turkey.
“The buses are brand-new factory-built vehicles. We have complete documentation covering their production and factory inspection. We invited the media so the public can receive verified information instead of speculation,” Umanah said.
He disclosed that Governor Umo Eno approved the acquisition of 50 CNG buses, with the first batch of 20 already delivered, while the remaining 30 are expected to arrive in July and August.
According to the commissioner, the initiative goes beyond the acquisition of buses and includes the construction of a central transport terminal in Uyo, bus stations in the 31 local government areas, maintenance workshops, driver training facilities and CNG refuelling stations to support a modern mass transit system.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Anthony Luke, said he personally witnessed the production and quality inspection of the buses during a visit to the Isuzu manufacturing plant in Turkey.
“I witnessed the production process and quality inspections myself. These are genuine, brand-new buses manufactured specifically for Akwa Ibom State,” Luke said.
Providing technical clarification, the Chief Executive Officer of Alpha Dias Project Limited, Mr. Alexandro Selefteriadis, explained that the buses were built from the factory to run on Cummins CNG engines and were not diesel-powered vehicles later converted to gas.
He added that the transport system is designed to connect all 31 local government areas, major commercial centres and the Victor Attah International Airport through an integrated network supported by modern operational infrastructure.
The journalists later inspected the buses, engaged project consultants on their specifications and procurement process, and embarked on a demonstration ride.
Chairman of the NUJ, Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Nsibiet John, described the assessment tour as a commendable step towards transparency, saying it would enable journalists to provide accurate and balanced reports on the project.