UYO — The Akwa Ibom State Government has opened its procurement process for its newly acquired Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to public scrutiny by inviting journalists to independently inspect the vehicles and verify their authenticity.
The inspection, held at the Government House in Uyo, was led by the Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Umanah, alongside the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Anthony Luke, and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ekerete Udoh. The exercise followed a request by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council.
Speaking during the inspection, Umanah said the initiative was aimed at providing firsthand information to the media and addressing claims that the buses were refurbished rather than newly manufactured.
He disclosed that Governor Umo Eno approved the procurement of 50 brand-new factory-built CNG buses, noting that the first batch of 20 vehicles had already arrived from Turkey, while the remaining buses are expected in July and August.
According to the commissioner, the buses are part of a broader integrated transportation programme that includes the construction of a central transport terminal in Uyo, transit stations across the state's 31 local government areas, maintenance workshops, driver training facilities, CNG refuelling stations and other supporting infrastructure.
Also addressing journalists, the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Anthony Luke, said he personally witnessed the production and quality inspection of the buses at the Isuzu manufacturing plant in Turkey.
He described the project as a major milestone in the state's efforts to modernise its public transportation system, stressing that the vehicles were produced specifically for Akwa Ibom State.
Providing technical details, the Chief Executive Officer of Alpha Dias Project Limited, Mr. Alexandro Selefteriadis, explained that the fleet consists of original factory-built CNG buses powered by Cummins gas engines, dismissing suggestions that they were diesel-powered vehicles later converted to run on compressed natural gas.
Selefteriadis added that the planned transport network is designed to connect all 31 local government areas, major commercial centres and the Victor Attah International Airport through a coordinated mass transit system supported by modern passenger terminals and operational facilities.
On behalf of the journalists, the Chairman of the NUJ in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Nsibiet John, commended the government for granting the media unrestricted access to inspect the buses.
He described the exercise as a demonstration of transparency and accountability in the execution of public projects.
The inspection concluded with journalists examining the buses, interacting with government officials and project consultants, and participating in a demonstration ride.
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