December 9, 2025
The Enugu State Government has unveiled a comprehensive transport reform that will restrict the operation of tricycles (Keke), yellow buses and minibuses from five major roads in the state capital. The measure is part of a broader strategy to implement a full-scale Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.
The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Transport, Dr Obi Ozor, during a consultative meeting with transport unions and stakeholders at the ministry headquarters in Enugu. Ozor explained that the decision to restrict certain vehicles from strategic corridors was essential for creating dedicated BRT routes in line with Governor Peter Mbah’s urban mobility vision.
He listed the affected corridors as:
- Okpara Avenue–Abakaliki Road–New Haven Junction–Naira Triangle–Emene Airport
- Ogui Road–Chime Avenue–Naira Triangle
- New Haven Junction–Bisala Road–Rangers Avenue–WAEC–Nkpokiti–Zik’s Avenue
- Ogui Road–Presidential Road–WAEC–Nkpokiti
- The entire Agbani Road stretch
According to Ozor, these roads will be redesignated for high-capacity buses, and the government must restrict tricycles for safety and efficiency. He stressed that Keke vehicles were never meant for high-speed corridors and often slowed down traffic while exposing riders to avoidable risks.
“We must be open to change. This reform is not about taking anyone’s job. It is about reorganising the system so that BRT buses operate on the primary roads, yellow buses serve the secondary routes, and tricycles provide last-mile connectivity. Everyone has a place in the value chain,” he said.
Ozor disclosed that the state had procured 200 CNG-powered BRT buses and 4,000 electric taxis to be assembled locally at ANAMMCO. The first batch of 1,000 taxis would be ready in three months. He added that 84 new bus shelters had already been built across the city to anchor the new, modern transport network.
With an estimated two million daily commuters, he said Enugu needed at least 8,000 buses to meet mobility demands. The soon-to-be-launched BRT buses would feature padded seats, functional AC systems, Wi-Fi and strict onboard safety protocols.
“Passengers do not stand in these buses, and every vehicle is tracked and monitored from our central command and control centre. The BRT fare now comes with a 47 per cent discount to cushion transportation costs for citizens,” he added.
The commissioner outlined resolutions from the stakeholders’ meeting, including opportunities for transport unions to submit proposals for involvement in BRT operations. He also announced an expansion of the Ije Card-Enugu’s electronic fare system, which will be decentralised to reach five million residents within 90 days.
Ozor acknowledged delays in allocating loading bays at the new transport terminals but assured unions that proposals were under review. He urged operators to seek financing options to procure buses or join the BRT operations network.
A joint review committee comprising ministry officials and transport union representatives was inaugurated to finalise operational plans ahead of the BRT rollout. The official launch date will be announced soon.
Reacting, the Enugu Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Mr Chidiebere Aniagu, said the union supported the reforms but urged the government to address members’ concerns.
Similarly, the state Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr Augustine Agu, commended the governor’s performance. “Governor Mbah has done in two years what others could not do in eight years. His private-sector discipline is evident. We fully support him,” he said, while appealing for union involvement in BRT and terminal operations.
Comrade Kingsley Edeh of the Amalgamated Tricycle Riders Association noted that the state had 18,000 Keke riders and requested that taxis be provided for those who wished to transition, especially once the government begins to restrict tricycles from primary transport routes.
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