Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has expressed his desire to commission the ongoing Aba Bus Terminal by early December, directing that solar power be deployed at the facility and the Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal in Umuahia.
Governor Otti stated this on Friday, when he received the Planet Project team, led by its Managing Director, Engr. Biodium Otunola, at the Government House, Umuahia.
The Planet Project is handling the construction of the Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal and other transport infrastructure across the state, including the ongoing Aba Bus Terminal.
The governor, who commended the team for the quality of work delivered at the Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal, said he had been informed that the Aba terminal would be ready by the end of November.
“I have also noted that Aba (Bus Terminal) is going to be delivered by the end of November. It will be very nice to commission it end of November or very early December for public use”, Governor Otti said.
He directed that the rooftop of the garage at the Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal be converted to solar power and ordered that the same arrangement be replicated at the Aba terminal.
According to him, the initiative would reduce the pressure on public electricity in powering the terminals.
“I want to thank you for a good job. And I expect that even Aba (bus terminal) will be more beautiful than Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal”, the governor said.
Govermor Otti expressed satisfaction with the reception of the Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal by residents and private transport operators, attributing the development to growing confidence in his administration.
“Our people adopted the place, particularly the private operators. And just like you (Biodium Otunola) rightly said, it’s about the confidence they have in the government,” he said.
The governor also disclosed that measures were being put in place to strengthen security at the terminal, including the deployment of word scanners and log-in scanners and restricting access to a single entry point.
“We already have given instructions on security clearly. I had instructed that word scanners and log-in scanners be introduced.
“And I’ve also restricted entry to just one point. So I’m sure they are putting everything together. So in the next few days or weeks, that (security strategies) will be implemented”, Governor Otti stated.
He further stressed the need for additional personnel to be deployed to the terminal to ensure that the facility remained clean.
Earlier, the Managing Director, Planet Projects, Engr. Biodium Otunola, thanked the governor for giving Planet Project the opportunity to deliver the Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal and traffic lights in the state, describing the projects as evidence of the administration’s work.
He disclosed that operations had commenced at the terminal, expressing appreciation for the progress recorded within less than a month.
On the Aba Bus Terminal, Otunola assured the governor that work was progressing as planned and that the project would be delivered by the end of November.
“Concerning Aba Terminal, work is going on well there, and we are poised to finish by the end of November.
“Yes, and we are doing everything we can to make sure that that project is delivered by November ending,”, he said.
Otunola also requested the provision of external security at the Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal ahead of a possible increase in patronage during the December festive period.
