The Delta State Government says it constructed more than 50 jetties across the state in 2026, while establishing three Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations in collaboration with the private sector, as part of efforts to improve mobility and expand transportation options for residents.
The State Commissioner for Transport, Onoriode Agofure, disclosed this in Asaba in an interview with journalists shortly after defending his ministry’s 2027 budget at the inter-ministerial budget defence organized by the Ministry of Economic Planning in Asaba.
Agofure, who rated the ministry’s performance in the outgoing year at 70 per cent, said the construction of the jetties was aimed at strengthening water transportation and improving connectivity between riverine communities and land-based transport networks.
He listed the Cable Point jetty in Asaba and the Omadino jetty among the projects executed, emphasizing that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori had also directed the construction of a jetty at Uzere following an oil spill incident in the area.
The commissioner said the ministry had also established three CNG stations in partnership with the private sector, noting that the facilities could help commuters reduce transportation expenses by between 40 and 50 per cent.
Looking ahead to 2027, Agofure announced that the state expected the arrival of 50 new buses in January as part of measures to further reduce transportation costs and ease the burden on commuters.
He said the government was also expanding CNG conversion centres and refuelling stations, while plans were underway to deploy additional enforcement cameras to improve road safety and traffic management.
“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 changing stations. More enforcement cameras are coming to bring sanity to our roads.
“Residents should keep their fingers crossed because good things are coming from the Ministry of Transport.”, Agofure stated.
The commissioner attributed the delay in the arrival of the buses, which had affected the anticipated reduction in transport fares, to disruptions caused by global tensions, particularly the crisis involving Iran.
He, however, expressed confidence that the buses would arrive soon, assuring residents that transportation costs would eventually come down.
“Transportation costs will come down. There was a delay in the arrival of the buses because of the crisis in the world. That caused some delays, but we have been able to move past those challenges,” he said.
On complaints about the activities of task forces operating on roads across the state, Agofure clarified that not all the enforcement teams fell under the supervision of his ministry.
Agofure identified the Vehicle Inspection Office Unit and the ministry’s traffic management authority as the task forces directly under his control, explaining that some others operated under local government authorities.
He acknowledged complaints about unauthorized task forces and said the ministry would work to ensure that illegal enforcement teams were removed from the roads.
The Delta State Commissioner for Transport maintained that the ministry’s 2026 interventions in road and water transportation, alongside the planned deployment of additional buses and expansion of CNG infrastructure in 2027, were geared towards improving transportation services and making movement more affordable for residents.
BY: Sam Erhunmwunsee, Radio Nigeria Asaba
