Sokoto Transport Authority Procures Seven Buses for N511m, Begins CNG Conversion

By Bashir Rabe Mani, Sokoto

The Sokoto State Transport Authority (SSTA) has procured seven new 18-seater Hummer buses for N511 million as part of efforts to expand its interstate transport services and improve passenger comfort.

The General Manager of SSTA, Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad, disclosed this while addressing journalists on Monday in Sokoto on ongoing efforts to modernise the authority’s operations.

Muhammad said the buses, purchased at N73 million each, were financed from the authority’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and would be deployed to interstate routes.

According to him, although each bus has a capacity of 18 passengers, the authority intends to carry only 16 passengers per trip to provide more space and improve comfort.

“Each of the new buses is an 18-seater, but they will each carry 16 passengers to enhance passenger comfort,” Muhammad said.

He disclosed that the seven buses had arrived in Sokoto and would soon be unveiled by Governor Ahmed Aliyu before being deployed.

The General Manager added that the authority had ordered three additional buses of similar capacity at a total cost of N219 million.

SSTA begins CNG conversion of vehicles

Muhammad also disclosed that SSTA had commenced the conversion of its existing petrol-powered vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as part of measures to reduce operating costs.

He said the programme began with the authority’s “Iyaye Mata” vehicles, which provide subsidised transportation services for women, adding that the conversion had been completed and the vehicles returned to operation.

According to him, the rising cost of petrol and the high fuel consumption of the six-cylinder vehicles prompted the decision.

“Out of the 20 vehicles, we recently started the conversion. Each vehicle costs N750,000 to convert to CNG,” he said.

Muhammad explained that the cost of operating the vehicles on petrol had made the service increasingly difficult for drivers.

“If you buy at least 10 litres of fuel, that is almost N15,000 or more, and you cannot even make N3,000 a day. That is why most of the drivers are reluctant to drive the vehicles,” he said.

He said drivers operating the Iyaye Mata vehicles remit N2,000 daily for services running from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., while passengers pay between N150 and N300 per trip, depending on the distance, under the state government’s subsidised transport arrangement.

The General Manager said the authority would proceed with the conversion of its larger buses to CNG after completing the programme for the Iyaye Mata fleet.

Muhammad expressed confidence that the acquisition of the new buses and transition to CNG would reduce operating expenses, improve service delivery and make SSTA’s transport services more competitive.

He also pledged to maintain transparency and accountability in the management of the authority.

“I will continue to uphold the trust reposed in me by the state government,” Muhammad said.