The Kogi State Government has signed a concession agreement with Vostok Meridian Limited for the development, operation and deployment of modern transportation and e-hailing services across the state.
The agreement, which covers the Lokoja Mega Terminal and a wider integrated transportation system, is aimed at modernising public transportation, improving mobility and enhancing economic activities in the state.
Speaking at the agreement signing ceremony, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Folashade Ayoade, said the initiative will improve access to the state, attract investments and facilitate trading through an efficient transportation network.
Ayoade said improved transportation would enable investors to move in and out of Kogi with ease, adding that the strategic location of the state which connects it to 10 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, presents an opportunity for economic growth.
She urged the contractors to demonstrate the same commitment as the state government in ensuring speedy implementation of the project, assuring that the state government is ready to provide the necessary cooperation to achieve the objectives of the project.
The Managing Director of Vostok Meridian Limited, Mr Brian Allison, said the project will introduce an integrated transportation system comprising terminal operations, intercity and interstate transport services, as well as e-hailing services.
He explained that the company will upgrade the Lokoja Mega Terminal and introduce technology-driven payment collection, ticket booking and monitoring systems through a control tower infrastructure.
Allison added that the e-hailing component will deploy a combination of electric vehicles and compressed natural gas-powered vehicles, while affordable transportation arrangements will also be developed in partnership with tertiary institutions in the state for students.
He further disclosed that the project would incorporate bus shelters, traffic lights, road signs, speed limits and video surveillance systems to improve traffic management and promote responsible driving.
The Technical Director of the company, Mr Tony Anyanwu, assured residents that all vehicles deployed under the concession will be brand new, ruling out refurbished or second-hand vehicles.
He said the company will work with the Ministry of Transportation to inspect the vehicles upon arrival, adding that existing transport operators will not be displaced but be equipped with modern vehicles to improve their operations and earnings.
Earlier, the Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor and Chief Executive Officer of the Kogi State Investment Promotion and Public-Private Partnership Agency (KOSIPPPPA), Aliyu Salami, said the agreement is the outcome of about six months of engagement with the company.
Salami said the initiative aligned with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s vision of establishing a multimodal transportation system that connects air, rail, road and water transportation to strengthen logistics and economic development in the state.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Transportation, Victor Atuluku, described the agreement as a significant development for the state’s transportation sector, noting that it would address challenges associated with terminal operations, traffic management and intra-city and interstate transportation.
