Development of a Bus Scheduling and Passenger Information System for Interstate Transport in Abuja, FCT

Inefficiency in bus scheduling and the absence of reliable passenger information systems at interstate motor parks in Abuja, FCT, result in prolonged waiting times, overcrowding, and passenger dissatisfaction. This study presents the development of a bus scheduling and passenger information system for the Utako Motor Park in Abuja. A primary survey of 150 regular interstate travellers and 20 transport union officials established that 84 percent of passengers experienced schedule uncertainty, relying on verbal announcements with no real-time digital updates. The proposed system was developed as a dual-channel platform comprising a web-based administrative interface for bus operators to input and update schedules, and an Android passenger application displaying live departure boards, seat availability, and estimated journey times. A backend API developed in Python (FastAPI framework) with a PostgreSQL database manages data synchronisation between channels. A functional test simulating 500 concurrent passenger queries confirmed system responsiveness within acceptable latency thresholds. The study identifies the need for digital literacy training among park managers and recommends the FCT Transportation Secretariat mandate digital scheduling systems across all registered interstate terminals. Keywords: bus scheduling, passenger information system, interstate transport, Abuja, real-time updates.