Transport Crisis: Akwa Ibom Residents Lament Delay in Deployment of 50 CNG Buses

Residents of Akwa Ibom State have lamented the continued delay in deploying 50 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered buses acquired by the state government to ease transportation costs, as petrol prices hover between N1,380 and N1,400 per litre.

The buses, expected to provide affordable transportation across the state’s 31 local government areas, are yet to commence operations, leaving commuters, civil servants, farmers and petty traders struggling with the rising cost of mobility.

Findings by LEADERSHIP revealed that the delay has heightened concerns among residents already contending with the rising cost of living, with some civil servants reportedly alternating workdays with colleagues to reduce transportation expenses.

The development has also affected farmers and petty traders, who face increasing costs transporting their produce and goods to major markets. The additional expenses are subsequently passed on to consumers, further driving up the prices of food and other essential commodities.

Residents say the situation has become increasingly difficult as their earnings fail to keep pace with rising transportation and household expenses.

Although the state government increased the minimum wage from N70,000 to N80,000, some workers say the adjustment has offered limited relief amid the prevailing economic challenges.

A Permanent Secretary in the state civil service, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the high cost of commuting had affected workers’ morale and attendance.

“Some days, the offices would be devoid of life because the civil servants’ morale has become too low because of cash constraints to pay for the high transportation cost to come to work,” the official said.

A junior civil servant, MfonAbasi Ekpenyong, said he sometimes preferred staying at home to tend to his small farms rather than spend a substantial portion of his earnings on transportation.

“Except I have essential service to perform in the office, I won’t go. I will rather stay at home to tend to my small farms around my neighbourhood,” he said.

The delay in deploying the CNG buses has further fuelled frustration among residents who had anticipated that the initiative would help cushion the impact of rising petrol prices.

Emma Bassey, a civil servant and fruit seller in Abak Local Government Area, expressed disappointment over the delay, while Aniedi Uko, a seafood dealer who transports goods from Ishiet Beach in Uruan Local Government Area to Uyo, lamented the missed opportunity to reduce transportation expenses.

Some residents have also questioned the reasons for the delay, with speculation emerging that the buses could be deployed for political purposes ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“This is political times, maybe government wants to use it as a political bait to woo the people as a campaign tool,” Anana Ukpong, a local artisan in Ikot Akpankuk, Ukanafun Local Government Area, said.

Umoh Inyang, a student activist, also expressed concern over reports that the buses might be used to transport party supporters when political campaigns begin.

However, the state Commissioner for Information, Dr. Aniekan Umanah, dismissed suggestions that the delay was politically motivated, insisting that the government’s intention was to provide affordable transportation for residents.

He attributed the delay to the absence of adequate gas outlets and refuelling infrastructure required to operate the buses, explaining that the facilities were necessary before the vehicles could be deployed.

The state government, it was learnt, has engaged oil and gas companies, including Nsik Oil & Gas Company Limited, to develop the necessary infrastructure.

Meanwhile, work is progressing on a major CNG infrastructure project expected to strengthen gas distribution and support the adoption of cleaner fuel across Akwa Ibom.

Nsik Oil & Gas Company Limited has taken delivery of the first consignment of equipment for a 10 million standard cubic feet per day CNG mother station in Uquo Isi Edoho community, Esit Eket Local Government Area.

The facility is expected to provide the infrastructure required to distribute compressed natural gas to transportation operators, industries and other consumers across the state.

The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Nsikak Johnny, recently received the equipment shipment from China, describing its arrival as a significant step towards commissioning the facility and establishing a wider CNG distribution network across the state.

The equipment, manufactured by China-based original equipment manufacturer CIMC, includes compressors, dehydration and filtration units, heat exchangers and generating sets.

The project consultant, Mr. Mkposong Asuquo, said the delivery marked progress towards equipment installation and eventual commissioning.

Speaking at the project site, Asuquo explained that the facility was designed to harness pipeline gas available in the area. He said the site was approximately 500 metres from Frontier Energy and about three kilometres from Savannah Energy’s Accugas facility, from which the project was expected to obtain its gas supply.

According to him, the project is an equity partnership between Nsik Oil & Gas Company Limited and the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF), under the supervision of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas).

He added that the latest shipment followed the successful completion of a Factory Acceptance Test in China involving the project team and regulators from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

“We have our first set of equipment from CIMC China, all the way from the Jiangsu Province in China. We actually went there, we did the Factory Acceptance Test with the regulators from NMDPRA, and by the time that was concluded, we looked at their excellent performance and we went into a contract with them,” Asuquo said.

He explained that the equipment had been cleared in Nigeria and transported directly to the project site, where it would form the core of the facility’s gas compression and processing systems.

The consultant listed four reciprocating compressors, dehydration and filtration systems, heat exchangers and four generator sets among the equipment being installed.

He said the power system would incorporate gas-fired generation alongside an alternative petrol-powered arrangement to ensure operational continuity in the event of interruptions or shortages in gas supply.

Asuquo also disclosed that the project promoters had ordered two trailers to transport compressed gas from the mother station to planned daughter stations.

He said the distribution model was designed to extend the benefits of CNG beyond the host community by bringing the fuel closer to motorists, industries and other consumers across the state.

The company, he added, intends to establish smaller distribution points to support vehicle conversion, public transportation and industrial activities rather than concentrate supplies among large-scale off-takers.

“Our intention is also to feed most of the vehicles that are already CNG-powered,” he said.

Asuquo said the project had passed several critical stages, including land acquisition, site clearing, geotechnical investigations, Environmental Impact Assessment, Front-End Engineering Design, Detailed Engineering Design, regulatory approvals, gas supply arrangements and Factory Acceptance Testing.

He commended the federal government, particularly President Bola Tinubu, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, for their support for gas-sector development.

He also acknowledged the contributions of the MDGIF, led by Mr. Wole Adama, and the NMDPRA.

For commuters in Akwa Ibom, however, the immediate concern remains when the 50 CNG-powered buses will finally hit the roads. With petrol prices continuing to strain household budgets and business operations, residents are awaiting the promised affordable transportation that could ease the burden of daily commuting and the movement of goods.