FG Launches 100 Electric Buses For Federal Civil Servants
The Federal Government has launched 100 electric mass transit buses to ease transportation challenges faced by federal civil servants and improve workers’ welfare and productivity.
The buses were commissioned on Wednesday at Eagle Square, Abuja, by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, as part of the Renewed Hope Mass Transit Programme.
The first phase of the initiative comprises 37 of the 100 electric buses approved under the programme. Walson-Jack described the project as a major milestone in the government’s efforts to provide affordable, safe and reliable transportation for civil servants.
The commissioning also marked one of her final official engagements before the end of her tenure as Head of the Civil Service, which she described as a “parting gift” to federal workers.
According to her, transportation costs and challenges have significant effects on workers’ finances, safety, punctuality and productivity.
“For many civil servants, the daily commute shapes their finances, their safety, their punctuality, and ultimately their productivity,” she said.
Walson-Jack explained that the initiative was designed to reduce the financial burden of commuting, minimise transportation risks and enable workers to arrive at their workplaces with greater energy and efficiency.
She said the buses were acquired through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, describing the initiative as part of President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to translate government policies and reforms into tangible benefits for workers.
The HoCSF also highlighted other measures introduced by the administration, including the review of the national minimum wage, wage awards following the removal of the petrol subsidy, digitalisation of government services, improved pension administration, promotions, employee compensation and health insurance.
She urged the authorities responsible for managing the buses to ensure proper maintenance, transparent route operations, safety and effective monitoring to guarantee the sustainability of the programme.
She added that the buses would initially operate on selected routes under a pilot scheme before being fully deployed, with plans to extend the service to Federal Secretariats across the states.
A Special Purpose Vehicle, she disclosed, had also been established to oversee the management, maintenance and long-term sustainability of the buses.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, said the initiative went beyond transportation, describing it as a combination of workers’ welfare, productivity, industrialisation and technological advancement.
Enoh said the buses would provide federal civil servants with safer, more affordable and dignified transportation while helping to reduce pressure on household incomes.
He disclosed that each of the 100 electric buses could accommodate up to 200 passengers and travel at least 200 kilometres on a full charge.
The minister commended Walson-Jack for ensuring the completion of the project, describing it as one of the legacies she would leave behind for the Federal Civil Service.
Enoh also linked the electric bus programme to the government’s broader plan to strengthen Nigeria’s automotive manufacturing industry.
He said Nigeria must move beyond importing electric vehicles to developing the capacity to manufacture vehicles and critical components locally, including batteries, charging infrastructure, power electronics and other modern vehicle systems.
According to him, the long-term objective is to position Nigeria as an automotive manufacturing hub in Africa, with local factories producing vehicles and components, creating jobs and strengthening local content.
“Nigeria must produce more. Nigeria must manufacture more. Nigeria must create more jobs at home,” Enoh said.
He called on the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and other stakeholders to support local manufacturers in expanding production, deepening local content and developing globally competitive products.
Enoh said the Federal Government would continue to pursue policies aimed at transforming economic reforms into industries, jobs, infrastructure and improved living standards for Nigerians.
