Ottis’ Electric Buses spark Mass Transit revolution in Abia
By Chukwuma Elvis
The launch of the now popular electric buses – Abia Green Shuttle – in Umuahia by no less a person than the Director General of the World Trade Organization – WTO – Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala last December has sparked in the state a revolution in transportation never thought possible in our lifetime.
At the launch which took place in Umuahia, the WTO head acknowledged the wisdom in going for electric buses which are in tandem with today’s global drive to reduce emissions arising from the burning of fossil fuels for energy and mass transportation. This she noted has been linked to rising temperatures, global warming, rising sea levels and other negative fallouts affecting human habitation on the planet.
Abia has chosen to go electric in the quest to evolve public mass transportation for the first time in the history of the state and this has contributed to ongoing effort by governments of the world to lower emissions by reducing Abias carbon footprint.
When the EV buses were rolled out for public services on the 24th of December, the state chief executive Dr. Alex Chioma Otti was the first passenger to ride on it. Thus Gov Otti technically became the first commutter on the Abia Green Shuttle. The bus took the governor and his entourage round the state capital and onward to Ukwa in the southern part of the state for an official function. This is unprecedented in the history of the state – Governor Otti is the first Abia governor to ride on a bus as a sitting governor!
The free bus services onward after the unveiling by Gov Otti and Dr. Ngozi became an instant hit with the public. Abians traveling through the major cities, towns and communities of the state have enjoyed the services offered by these mass transit vehicles with rave reviews of this ground breaking move in road transportation by Ottis’ government to modernize and revolutionise transport services in the state.
The Internet is awash with video recordings made and posted on the World Wide Web by excited commuters inside the EV buses on their journey expressing gratitude to the government of Dr. Otti for providing such services in modern, brand new, clean and environmentally friendly vehicles.
Counting from when it was launched on the 24th of December 2025, over 70,000 commuters and counting have enjoyed free rides to their destinations on the Abia Green Shuttle buses. Symbolically Gov. Otti is passenger number 1 on the environmentally friendly mass transit platforms.
Ultimately, the state government through the Abia state ministry of transportation maned by Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu aims to stimulate private investment in the sector. The Abia Green Shuttle Buses will eventually be handed over to worthy investors who will run the fleet according to set guidelines and further expand it to meet the ever expanding transportation needs of society.
For one, commercial transport operators have begun to lower fares across many routes a situation which was forced by the introduction of the Abia Green Shuttle services. Many commuters have confessed that the stress experienced annually by travellers particularly in the Yuletide was completely absent during Christmas and New Year celebration reflecting the immediate impact of the free bus services.
The free bus services which began in the Yuletide and ran through the new year continued until the end of February when subsidized fares will be introduced for the benefit of Abia workers and commuters at large.
The Abia Green Shuttle buses mark a paradym shift in the conduct of the business of transportation in the state. Very high standards have been set by Gov Ottis’ administration in terms of quality and services. This stardard will be the benchmark going forward for the sector in the state.
The state of the art and soon to be completed Umuahia Central Bus Terminal brings home the vision of Gov. Otti to transform the transport sector and eventually give the center of the state capital a facelift with modern infrastructure.
It is now common sight for commuters to form orderly lines while waiting to board the shuttle buses at shelters built by the state government in strategic locations across the state capital and Aba.
This is a novel practice bearing in mind that commuters in the state have not had the opportunity to board clean, state of the art vehicles fitted with air conditioners, comfortable seats, charging ports amongst several other amenities. These facilities have been designed to ensure the maximum comfort of commuters while heading to their various destinations.
Twenty more Green Shuttle buses are on the way to complement the 20 already in service. Gov. Otti states that the target is to get up to 100 of the Electric buses to serve the transportation needs of the people.
Operators of the buses referred to as ‘Pilots’ are neatly dressed and courteous as they relate with commuters daily eliciting excitement with many wondering if this is really happening in Abia. Indeed it is happening in Abia – the New Abia – envisioned by Dr. Alex Chioma Otti alongside his leautenants whom he chose to pilot the affairs of Abia out of the dulldrums.
The forward thinking government of Dr. Alex Otti made the choice for electric buses over compressed natural gas powered vehicles to completely eliminate emissions in this novel social service venture. This impacts on the carbon footprint of the state ensuring that Abia is in concert with global trends in the bid to drive down green house gas emissions.
The Abia Green Shuttle Service which is yet at the pilot stage aims to eventually establish a mini power grid to feed the charging stations which will continually power the buses and other electric vehicles to come into use in the Abia society.
With the free shuttle services scheduled to elapse at the end of the month of February 2026, the state ministry of Transport is working out modalities to charge a token ranging from one hundred and fifty naira for intra-city services to eight hundred to one thousand maira which will be most affordable for commuters travelling across routes within the state. This will be cost effective to meet the needs of workers and traders who because they are constantly on the move, look out for the most effective mode of transportation to deliver on their obligations.
The Abia Green Shuttle Services brings order to the chaotic transport sector in the state – it disrupts the status quo – setting a standard which is now the benchmark for qualitative service in the industry.
This is another major score for the amiable governor of ‘Gods Own State’ in the evolution of the ‘New Abia’. It can only get better with modern electric powered buses and other transportation platforms ridding on rehabilitated and reconstructed Abia roads made possible by the visionary Dr. Alex Chioma Otti.
Abia is rising higher and higher and has truly become number one. The New Abia is here and riding strong.
Chukwuma Elvis is a public Affairs Commentator.