The Federal Government has introduced 100 electric buses under the Renewed Hope Mass Transit Programme as part of efforts to ease transportation challenges and improve the welfare, punctuality and productivity of federal civil servants.
The first batch of 37 buses was commissioned on Wednesday at Eagle Square in Abuja by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, less than a day before the end of her tenure.
Walson-Jack described the initiative as an important workers’ welfare intervention, noting that access to affordable, safe and dependable transportation could reduce some of the financial and safety challenges associated with daily commuting.
“What we have here is 37 buses, being the first instalment of the 100 Electric Buses,” she said.
She explained that transportation costs, safety and reliability directly influence workers’ finances, punctuality and overall productivity.
“For many civil servants, the daily commute shapes their finances, their safety, their punctuality, and ultimately their productivity,” she said.
According to her, the programme is expected to help civil servants save money, reduce the risks associated with commuting and arrive at work with more energy to carry out their responsibilities.
The electric bus programme will initially operate as a pilot on selected routes before being expanded. The buses are also expected to be deployed to Federal Secretariats across the country.
To ensure proper management and sustainability, Walson-Jack disclosed that a Special Purpose Vehicle had been established to oversee the operation, maintenance and long-term management of the fleet.
Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Owan Enoh, described the initiative as more than a transport intervention, saying it also connects workers’ welfare with productivity, industrialisation and technological advancement.
Enoh said each of the 100 electric buses could carry up to 200 passengers and cover at least 200 kilometres on a full charge.
He commended the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and other stakeholders involved in the project, while encouraging local manufacturers to invest in electric vehicle production, increase local content and develop vehicles capable of competing in international markets.
The NADDC Director-General, Olu Osanipin, said the launch of the first batch marked the beginning of a phased deployment of the electric buses.
He disclosed that the full fleet of 100 buses is expected to be deployed by December 2026.
Osanipin added that the programme would contribute to the Federal Government’s efforts to promote cleaner transportation while supporting the growth of Nigeria’s local automotive manufacturing industry.
Enoh reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that its economic reforms lead to tangible improvements in industrial growth, employment, infrastructure and the living standards of Nigerians.
