Abia State Government Implements New Transport System with Relocation to Nnenna Otti Bus Terminal

In a bid to streamline its transportation network, the Abia State Government has initiated the relocation of transport operators to the newly established Nnenna Otti Bus Terminal in Umuahia. According to the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, this move is part of the state's centralised transport system, aimed at improving the overall transportation experience. The commissioner revealed that the state government had engaged in a series of meetings with transport stakeholders to address their concerns and ensure a smooth transition. 'There appears to be some push backs among some of the operators, and this is due to the fact that people are not easily giving in to change,' Kanu stated. The Honourable Commissioner for Transport, Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu, noted that the government had not taken away anybody's means of livelihood but had instead introduced a more organised system to sanitise the transport sector and improve it. He explained that transport unions and operators were told to bring four of their workers each to the terminal, where they would be properly identified with reflective tags and carried along. The terminal operates a transparent system that allocates loading opportunities on a first-come, first-served basis, irrespective of union affiliations. 'About 80 to 90 per cent of operators have embraced the initiative,' Ukaegbu added. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, stated that the centralisation of transport operations would reduce urban congestion, indiscriminate loading bays, expenses incurred by transport operators on their loading bays, and security challenges associated with the influx of unregulated transport operators. 'Over the years, we have seen transport operators extort people; by coming up with this organised system, we are solving our problems,' Ekeoma said.