The Ekiti State Government has commenced the deployment of 15 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses as part of measures to reduce transportation costs by 50 per cent across the state.

Governor Biodun Oyebanji flagged off the buses on Thursday at the premises of the Ekiti State Transportation Agency in Ado-Ekiti, saying the initiative was designed to ease the impact of high transport costs on residents.

The deployment coincided with the state’s Independence Day and 30th anniversary celebrations and followed the Federal Government’s directive to state governments to find ways of reducing transportation costs.

Oyebanji, who was accompanied by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, said the 15 buses donated to Ekiti by the Federal Government represented the first phase of the initiative.

He said the state government would work towards expanding the fleet to reach more residents and provide affordable transportation across the state.

According to the governor, the CNG buses would be distributed to transport unions and managed by the state transportation agency.

He urged the unions to ensure that the savings from the cheaper fuel source were reflected in fares paid by commuters.

Oyebanji said the initiative would help reduce the financial pressure on residents, particularly as transportation costs contribute significantly to the cost of living.

He also commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting states with resources and interventions aimed at implementing projects with direct benefits to citizens.

The Director-General of the Ekiti State Transportation Agency, Tajudeen Akingbolu, said specific interstate routes had been mapped out for the buses.

He said the buses would operate between Ado-Ekiti and Lagos, Ibadan, Onitsha and Abuja, providing residents with more affordable and reliable interstate transportation.

Akingbolu added that the deployment was expected to ease the burden of high transport fares on commuters across the state.