Abia State Government has announced that the State’s Green Shuttle Mass Transit Scheme will fully transition to an Electronic Ticketing System at the conclusion of its ongoing pilot phase, which currently offers free transportation services.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing Journalists on the outcomes of this week’s State Executive Council Meeting held on Tuesday and presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
Prince Kanu disclosed that the Electronic Ticketing System would feature “counterless Smart Cards, Prepaid and pay-as-you-go options, real-time transaction recording and a centralised revenue monitoring dashboard”.
He described the digital ticketing system as a major shift from cash-based public transport operations which will eliminate cash handling and the use of conductors.
Prince Kanu explained that the free ride, which will continue until the end of February, would enable operators gather sufficient data for route optimisation ahead of full commercial operations, after which a subsidised fare will be introduced.
The Commissioner added that when fares are introduced, pricing will be regulated by the government and based on distance and prevailing market rates for Tricycles and Mini-buses.
He further pointed out that the Abia State Green Shuttle Mass Transit Scheme will coexist with existing tricycle and mini-bus operators.
Prince Kanu noted that the pilot scheme, which commenced on 24 December 2025, has already attracted significant commuter demand.
According to him, “Between the 24th of December and the 29th of January, the scheme has operated for 497 bus days and transported “a total of 106,116 passengers over a total distance of 74,796.6 km”.
“On the average, 14 buses were deployed daily, and each carried approximately 3,034 passengers daily. The pilot rollout has offered the bus operators an idea on the intra city and intercity mobility demands for the bus service.
“The free bus rides, which remove fare barriers, allow demand to be driven primarily by service availability and operational efficiency. The intracity and intercity free rides will continue to the end of February to enable the operators to gather more commuter data and route demands that will go into further planning for the full commencement of the bus services scheme.
“Upon the full commencement of the Mass Transit Services, Abians will be expected to pay a token in order that the Mass Transit scheme is sustained.
“The pricing model will be based on analysis of existing market fares, as involving KeKe and mini-buses. It will also be based on distance rather than based on pricing, and a government-backed fare moderation. There will be electronic ticketing that will regulate cash handling and conductors.
“The scheme will offer commuters options to choose from, in terms of using either the mass transit buses or the Keke and mini-bus services that already exist.
“The whole aim is to totally transform the urban mass transit infrastructure industry while offering Abians a world-class experience in terms of the state-of-the-art bus transit services that will ensure affordability, comfort, and eco-friendly mass transit bus experience”, he said.
Prince Kanu while highlighting progress in the Health Sector, revealed that Abia State recently earned an excellent rating following an oversight visit by the House of Representatives Committee on Health especially for achievements in Primary Healthcare and universal health coverage.
Contributing, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Dr Obioma Nwogbo, explained that public sensitization is ongoing to prepare residents for the digital ticketing system assuring that assistance will be provided for the elderly and non-digitally savvy.
Dr Nwogbo explained that commuters would be able to load funds through vendors located at bus shelters, adding that the Green Shuttle scheme would operate alongside existing tricycle and mini-bus services, which he described as feeder or paratransit systems.
Also, the Commissioner for Health Prof Enoch Uche, urged parents to ensure children aged 9 months to 14 years receive the Measles and Rubella Vaccine, describing it as safe and life-saving.
