Dennis Oluwumi
In a bid to enhance access to safe and affordable transportation system by Niger people, the State Government has taken delivery of 64 high and medium capacity buses at N1.52 billion.
Launching the buses in Minna, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello said the measure is aimed at boosting the operations of Niger State Transport Authority, NSTA and make transportation affordable for motorists.
The governor appealed to the Federal Government to complete the Baro Port project in the interest of national development. He said Baro Port when operational is capable of creating massive jobs and liberate entire northern Nigeria from poverty.
The state transport authority, hitherto known to be one of the best government-owned transport agency in terms of affordability and reliability, had lost its pride due to bad management and lackadaisical attitude of the staff.
This informed the present administration’s decision to revamp the public transportation for effective and efficient service delivery.
Governor Bello said the initiative is to further boost the capacity of the authority and charged the management to ensure accountability as the fund used to acquire the facility is a loan and not grant.
“The easy movement of people and goods is a necessity that we shall continue to pursue to stimulate economic growth, while the government will further phase out unsafe modes of transportation in our major towns and replaced them with taxis and minibuses,” he said
Governor Bello said his administration will continue to seek collaboration with committed partners especially the Federal Government so as to expand other means of transportation within and outside the state.
He then commended the development partners for making the project a reality, while urging the ministry of transport to make good use of the investment and adhere to the MoU.
Other speakers including the Commissioner for Transport, Hajiya Ramatu Mohammed Yar’ Adua, who expressed optimism that the newly purchased buses will revamp the sector, said the thirty-eight buses supplied comprise of 24units of 16 seater buses, Nine units of 30-seater buses, four units of 55-seater buses and one utility Hyundai, while the rest 24 will be delivered in no distant time.