Opah’s Transport Plan Promises Safer Roads, Cheaper Fares For Abians

By Ijeoma Madunagum

As the 2027 governorship election draws closer, Chief Eric Opah has unveiled a transport reform plan he says will deliver safer roads, lower fares and stronger economic growth for Abia State.

At the heart of the proposal is the liberalisation of the transport sector – restoring the right of privately owned motor parks to operate and allowing government terminals and private parks to compete under regulation.

For many Abians, the debate goes beyond where vehicles load passengers. It is about the daily cost of living, the time spent waiting for vehicles, and how easily traders, workers and students can move around the state.

Opah argues that competition, backed by effective regulation, will force operators to improve services, keep to schedules and offer more affordable fares.

Under the plan, private park owners would return to business within a regulated framework, while transporters would have more room to invest, expand and create jobs. Operators would also be pushed to improve vehicle conditions, driver conduct and customer service to stay competitive.

Passengers, on their part, would have more choices, shorter waiting times, more dependable departures and fares shaped by competition rather than monopoly.

The proposal also places emphasis on safety. Opah says liberalisation must go hand in hand with strict enforcement of roadworthiness, driver licensing, passenger safety and orderly traffic management.

“Competition should not come at the expense of passenger safety, orderly traffic management, fair operating conditions or environmental standards,” the plan states.

Analysts say the household impact could be significant. Cheaper and more predictable transport would leave families with more money for food, school fees, healthcare and other needs. Traders would move goods faster, workers would waste less time at parks, and students would have easier access to schools.

For the wider economy, an efficient transport network could boost commercial activities in Aba, Umuahia and other towns by improving the movement of people, goods and services. Small businesses, manufacturers and market traders all depend on mobility to survive.

There is also an image benefit. A state with organised terminals, well-maintained vehicles and predictable services presents a better impression to visitors, investors and business partners.

Supporters of Opah say the plan shows a shift from politics of motor parks to governance that touches daily life – from the cost of getting to work to the ability of parents to meet household responsibilities.

As campaigns gather momentum, Abians are expected to interrogate what each candidate is offering and how those promises will translate into measurable improvements.

For Opah’s camp, the transport vision is a major selling point: a system where government and private enterprise work side by side to deliver a more competitive, accessible and efficient transport sector for the people.