EBOCAB: Ebonyi Govt To Establish POS Centres In Strategic Locations
By Alex Odeh
The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Transport, Prince Collins Igboke, has announced the establishment of physical booking points and Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals across key locations, including the international market, Mile 50, PA Ngele Oruta Township Stadium Abakaliki, and other strategic locations to address digital divide.
Interacting with journalists in Abakaliki on Tuesday, Igboke explained that EBOCAB is a state-owned initiative introduced through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with Pidwin’s Company, citing the state government holds a 95% equity share, while Pidwin retains 5%.
“EBOCAB is a new innovation for Ebonyi. It targets a more structured and possibly financially stable demographic. We are not sacking Keke operators—they remain accessible and more affordable for the common man. The two systems can function side-by-side,” he said.
Addressing concerns raised by commercial tricycle operators, the Commissioner emphasized that EBOCAB is not a replacement, but an alternative for residents who prefer more formalized transport options particularly for longer trips or those involving cargo.
“For instance, people going to visit in-laws or traveling with items like rice or provisions might prefer EBOCAB, which uses mini-haulers. Meanwhile, tricycles remain ideal for quick, affordable inner-city movements,” he added.
He said, the state government envisioned EBOCAB as a system that raises transport standards, introducing a more organized and technology-driven option to complement existing local models.
Igboke also revealed that EBOCAB services can extend to Enugu on request, especially for airport pickups. However, he noted that inter-state trips must be logged and approved by the management for monitoring purposes.
According to the commissioner, only 20 out of the 85 available vehicles are currently operational, described the development as a deliberate strategy aimed at avoiding congestion and assessing initial user response.
“As patronage increases, more vehicles will be deployed. Releasing all 85 now would overwhelm the roads,” he explained.
The Commissioner added that EBOCAB is accessible through a mobile application available on the Google Play Store, allowing users to book rides, select destinations, and make payments online.
To address the digital divide, Igboke announced the establishment of physical booking points and Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals across key locations, including the international market, Mile 50, PA Ngele Oruta Township Stadium Abakaliki, and other strategic locations.
“We’re also partnering with Money Point to install payment terminals at these stations, where users can book trips and pay with their cards,” he said.
