… assures of transparent, merit-based recruitment
The Akwa Ibom State Government has commenced the screening of applicants for the recruitment of drivers for its newly acquired Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses under the ARISE Transport initiative.
The screening exercise, which began with the submission of applications through the ARISE Portal, is aimed at identifying qualified candidates who will undergo specialised training before being deployed for commercial operations.
The Team lead Ibom City Bus, Mr. Ime Uwah, explained that applicants were subjected to document verification, identity checks and a 45-minute aptitude test focusing on essential driving knowledge.
Highlighting the importance the state government attaches to the CNG bus initiative, Uwah said officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) were also on ground to authenticate applicants’ original driver’s licences.
He said the next stages of the screening would include drug and eyesight tests, as well as practical driving assessments to determine the candidates’ competence before the final shortlist is produced.
According to him, the state government is targeting 118 drivers, who will undergo training before being formally engaged by CNG City Bus Limited, the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) responsible for managing the bus operations.
He added that the company was working towards commencing test runs of the buses by November 20, with commercial operations expected to begin on December 1, 2026.
Representing AKICORP, the Director of Human Resources and General Services, Mr. Ekpedeme Sambo, reaffirmed the Governor’s commitment to a transparent and merit-based recruitment process for drivers of the newly acquired CNG buses, in line with Governor Umo Eno’s vision for an efficient and sustainable transportation system.
He commended the Governor for his investments in the transport sector and praised the collaboration among the Ministry of Transport, AKICORP, relevant agencies and other government institutions in translating the Governor’s vision into reality. He noted that the recruitment process was designed to eliminate favouritism, with applicants identified by numbers rather than names.
He stressed that the CNG buses represented a significant government investment that must be managed by competent drivers to guarantee returns and ensure sustainable benefits for the people.
Some of the applicants, including Mr. Effiong Nsikak, Ms. Blessing Bassey, Mr. Okodi David and Mr. Ememobong Edet, commended the Akwa Ibom State Government for creating employment opportunities through the CNG bus initiative.
They described the recruitment exercise as transparent, organised and merit-based, noting that it would provide qualified residents with opportunities to contribute to the state’s transportation development.
They also expressed optimism about the screening process and their readiness to undergo the required tests and training, pledging to demonstrate professionalism, discipline and commitment if selected for the driving positions.
l
