Delta Expects 50 New Buses in January 2027 as Transport Costs Remain High

The Commissioner for Transport, Onoriode Agofure, disclosed this on Wednesday while presenting his ministry’s 2027 budget during the inter-ministerial budget defence organised by the Ministry of Economic Planning in Asaba.

Agofure said the buses, alongside plans to expand Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion centres and refuelling stations, would strengthen public transport services and help reduce commuting costs for residents.

“Fifty buses are on their way, and we expect them to arrive on or before January. We are also opening more CNG conversion centres and refuelling stations,” he said, urging residents to remain optimistic about the ministry’s ongoing initiatives.

The commissioner attributed the delay in achieving the expected reduction in transport fares, despite the Federal Government’s October 1 target, partly to the delayed delivery of the buses.

He linked the delay to international tensions, particularly those involving Iran, which he said had affected the delivery schedule. However, he expressed confidence that the situation would improve.

Agofure also revealed that the ministry had established three CNG stations in partnership with private-sector operators. According to him, the facilities are expected to provide commuters with potential savings of between 40 and 50 per cent on transportation costs.

The planned arrival of the 50 buses and expansion of CNG infrastructure form part of the state government’s broader efforts to address transportation challenges. However, the impact of these measures will ultimately depend on timely delivery, operational capacity and how effectively the savings are reflected in fares paid by commuters.