Scandal: Refurbishing Dilapidated Buses for Mass Transit Palliative

A report posted on SaharaReporters has revealed that a crew of panel beaters, technicians, and painters are at the Federal Secretariat car park in Abuja, refurbishing dilapidated buses belonging to the Federal Ministry of Transport. The interior of the 14 vehicles showed worn-out seats, smashed windscreens, and old tires.

Mr. Olujimi, the press officer, dismissed the vehicles as not belonging to the ministry when asked by SaharaReporters.

These buses were part of a palliative program signed by the Federal Government and organized on October 15, 2023, to reduce transportation costs.

The buses are to be fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG), but Nigerians are concerned about the safety of the refurbished vehicles. Plans to purchase 55,000 CNG conversion kits to begin an auto gas conversion program have been approved, and the government has voted N100 billion for the purchase of high-capacity CNG buses for the mass transit system.

Work is currently ongoing on state-of-the-art CNG stations nationwide, with the roll-out expected to commence by November with pilots across 10 campuses nationwide.