The Kaduna State Government says its Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is expected to provide relief to residents facing high fuel and transport costs, with construction scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026.
The government said the project would deploy Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered buses to make public transport more affordable, faster and environmentally friendly.
Officials disclosed this during a one-day media engagement in Kaduna, where they said the BRT would be the first of its kind in Northern Nigeria and the second in the country after Lagos.
The 24-kilometre corridor is designed to transport thousands of commuters daily while easing congestion and reducing pressure on household budgets.
The Managing Director of Kaduna Line and Acting Director-General of the Kaduna State Transport Regulatory Authority (KADSTRA), Engineer Inuwa Ibrahim, said the state had completed the design and planning stages and was ready to proceed with implementation.
Ibrahim stressed the importance of public communication to the success of the project.
“Without media, our people, our citizens, will not be able to know what the state government is doing in terms of developmental projects in the entire state of Kaduna State,” he said.
The project is also expected to generate significant employment opportunities, with Ibrahim estimating that between 10,000 and 20,000 direct and indirect jobs could be created.
According to him, the system will deploy 120 articulated buses, creating opportunities for drivers, mechanics, ticketing personnel, security officers and maintenance workers, alongside jobs linked to supporting infrastructure such as bus stops and shelters.
“Considering this number of fleet, even to say you have 120 drivers, the support, the mechanics, servicing, and so on and so forth. So there is so much economic benefit with respect to this project,” Ibrahim added.
The use of CNG is central to the government’s plan to keep transport fares affordable amid rising petrol prices.
Ibrahim described CNG as “cheaper and cleaner”, saying its use would help support subsidised fares while reducing the environmental impact of the transport system.
“Because the fuel is greener. We are using CNG all through, which is cheaper and cleaner. Even our environment will be more cleaner,” he said.
The Project Coordinator of the Kaduna BRT, Engineer Aliyu Usman, said the project was designed not only to reduce transport costs but also to promote a more sustainable and organised public transport system.
He described the initiative as a transition from informal to formal public transportation, supported by technology and climate-conscious measures.
Usman said the CNG-powered buses would emit significantly less carbon monoxide, helping to reduce the state’s carbon footprint and support efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
He added that an Intelligent Transport System would be integrated into the buses to enhance security, vehicle tracking and overall service delivery.
Commuters are also expected to benefit from reduced travel times, as the BRT buses will operate on dedicated lanes designed to ease congestion along busy routes.
Usman said fares on the system would be lower than those currently charged by informal transport operators.
On the construction timeline, he said the project would take approximately one and a half years to complete.
