The Abia State Government has renewed its commitment to working with key federal agencies to expand the use of cleaner and more affordable energy solutions, particularly in the transportation sector.
The commitment followed a working visit to the state by a delegation led by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), Dr Armstrong Takang. The team was received by Abia State Governor, Alex Otti.
The visit also featured the commissioning of 20 additional electric buses deployed by the Abia State Government, marking another step towards expanding sustainable public transportation and supporting Nigeria’s transition to cleaner mobility.
The collaboration involves the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV), MOFI, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the Abia State Government.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Executive Chairman of Pi-CNG & EV, Ismaeel Ahmed, said energy, agriculture and transportation were closely connected and should be developed together to achieve sustainable economic growth.
Ahmed explained that an efficient transportation system was essential to economic development because it enables the movement of people and goods, creates employment opportunities and improves livelihoods.
He reiterated the initiative’s readiness to support Abia in increasing the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a cleaner and more affordable alternative for transportation. He added that the partnership would focus on infrastructure development, strategic collaborations and stakeholder engagement to reduce transportation costs and build a stronger clean-mobility ecosystem.
Speaking during the visit, Takang stressed that development efforts should not be concentrated in Abuja but must reach communities across the country.
He identified energy, agriculture and transportation as key sectors of President Bola Tinubu’s development agenda, saying their effective integration could accelerate economic growth, create jobs and improve living standards.
Takang called for stronger cooperation among Pi-CNG & EV, REA and the Abia Government to ensure that federal interventions produce visible benefits for residents of the state and the wider South-East.
The Managing Director of REA, Abba Aliyu, also took part in the discussions, which centred on improving access to dependable energy, promoting sustainable infrastructure and strengthening development across Abia.
Governor Otti, while receiving the delegation, welcomed the partnership and assured the federal agencies of his administration’s continued cooperation.
He said the state government would continue to pursue initiatives that expand access to clean energy, upgrade transportation infrastructure and attract investments capable of supporting long-term economic growth in Abia.