Federal civil servants are set to have a new commuting option as the government rolls out 100 electric buses under the Renewed Hope Mass Transit Programme.
The fleet was commissioned at Eagle Square, Abuja, on Wednesday, with 37 buses forming the first batch. Acquired through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, the scheme is intended to provide more affordable and dependable transportation for federal workers.
Each of the 100 buses can carry up to 200 passengers and travel a minimum of 200 kilometres on a full charge.
For Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the project marked a significant final milestone in her tenure. With less than 24 hours before leaving office, she described it as her “parting gift” to federal civil servants.
“What we have here is 37 buses, being the first instalment of the 100 Electric Buses,” she said.
Walson-Jack said the daily journey to work has benefits as it pertains to workers’ finances, safety, punctuality and productivity. She expects the new service to reduce commuting costs and risks while helping workers arrive at their duty posts better prepared for the day.
She also cited other measures aimed at improving civil servants’ welfare, including the upward review of the national minimum wage, wage awards following the removal of the petrol subsidy, digitalisation of government services, improved pensions, promotions, employee compensation and health insurance.
The buses will initially operate on selected routes under a pilot scheme before a much larger rollout. They are also expected to serve Federal Secretariats across the states.
Walson-Jack called for proper maintenance, transparent route management, safety measures and effective monitoring. A Special Purpose Vehicle has been established to manage the fleet and oversee its long-term sustainability.
Beyond easing the commute, the project has been linked to Nigeria’s ambition to build a stronger domestic automotive industry.
Senator John Owan Enoh, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, said the electric-bus programme brings transportation, technology, productivity and industrial development into the same policy frame.
He said the buses would offer federal workers safer, more affordable and dignified transportation while reducing pressure on household incomes.
Enoh also stressed that Nigeria’s electric-mobility push must go beyond putting electric vehicles on the road. The country, he said, needs capacity in battery technology, charging infrastructure, power electronics and modern vehicle systems.
“Nigeria must produce more. Nigeria must manufacture more. Nigeria must create more jobs at home,” he said.
The major goal is to position Nigeria as an automotive manufacturing hub for Africa, with local factories producing vehicles and components and creating opportunities for young Nigerians.
Enoh commended the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and other stakeholders involved in the project. He urged local manufacturers to invest in factories, deepen local content and develop products that can compete in international markets.
He also commended Walson-Jack for seeing the project through, describing it as one of the lasting contributions of her tenure.
“As you prepare to conclude your distinguished tenure as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, there is something particularly meaningful about leaving behind an intervention that will continue serving civil servants every working day,” he said.
The 37 buses now entering service mark the first step in a 100-bus programme. Its success will rest on disciplined management, reliable operations and the ability to turn electric mobility into a platform for stronger local manufacturing.
For the Federal Civil Service, the immediate gain is a new transport option and for Nigeria’s automotive sector, the bigger opportunity is to ensure that the technology, infrastructure and industrial capacity behind that transition increasingly take root at home.
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