By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
Sokoto State government has released additional 30 new buses to the state ministry of transport so as to help boost intra city transpiration, a statement by Abubakar Bawa noted.
Bawa, who is the Director General, Media and Publicity to the governor of the state, Ahmed Aliyu quoted his principal as saying the gesture was to help ease the hardship faced by passengers when boarding the mass transit vehicles.
The governor who was represented by his deputy, Idris Mohammed Gobir while presenting the vehicles to the Commsioner for Transport, said the e-ticketing process delayed the release of the buses.
“This 30 buses were part of the fleet earlier procured by the state government but had not been released due to the pending completion of the e-ticketing system”, the governor submitted.
Continuing, the governor reassured that with the development, passengers can now conveniently book and pay for their transport fares online without any difficulty.
“The e-ticketing system will also ensure transparency and accountability in the day-to-day operation of the state’s mass transit service and guarantee value for money,” he added.
Gobir further urged the Ministry of Transportation to ensure effective supervision and regular maintenance of the buses.
On his call for judicious usage of the buses, the governor said they were purchased with hard-earned taxpayers’ money and must therefore be jealously protected at all times.
“I want to call on both drivers and passengers to keep these vehicles clean at all times,” he stressed.
In his vote of thanks, the State Commissioner for Transportation, Hon. Bala Kokani, assured the Deputy Governor that the vehicles would be properly maintained to safeguard the government’s significant investment.
Bala Kokani further praised governor Ahmed Aliyu for his consistent support to the mass transit sector, adding it had greatly bolstered the comfort and convenience of passengers using the government-provided transport.
“I want to assure His Excellency that we will protect these vehicles just as we protect our personal property,” Kokani affirmed.
Recall that governor Ahmed Aliyu since inception, had procured a total of 70 mass transit vehicles, consisting of 50 buses and 20 Toyota Camrys for both inter-state and intra-city transport services.
This initiative is part of the administration’s ongoing efforts to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal and improve the overall standard of living in Sokoto State.
