Subsidise Transportation For Workers, Students; Borno, Adamawa, Yobe.

The governments of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe have begun to take steps to limit the increase in transportation costs induced by the loss of gasoline subsidies.

The governments of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe have begun to take steps to limit the increase in transportation costs caused by the Federal Government’s elimination of gasoline subsidies.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), state governments that operate their own transportation businesses have continued to keep their fares cheaper than what is seen in car parks.

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno authorised the discharge of 50 buses to solve the crisis.

The buses would be added to the fleet of the state-owned Borno Express Corporation, according to Mallam Isa Gusau, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy.

Gusau further stated that 30 vans were offered to farmers, particularly those dwelling within Maiduguri, to provide a free transport to the outskirts of the state capital where their farmlands are located.

Mustapha Abdullahi, a University of Maiduguri student, and Ali Modu, a government worker who used government buses that picked up passengers for N50 per drop, praised the government’s participation.

“I take Borno Express buses every day, paying N50 from the Post Office to the University of Maiduguri as opposed to N150 charged by taxis and tricyclists,” Abdullahi explained.

In Adamawa, the state administration formed a special committee to mitigate the consequences of subsidy removal, chaired by Dr. Amos Edgar, Chief of Staff to Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri.

Mr Labaran Salisu, Director of Transport at the Adamawa Ministry of Transport, stated that some of the 250 partially leased cars in the ministry’s custody for interstate services will be used for town service at a reduced fee.

Dr Mohammed Goje, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency in Yobe, said plans were ongoing to provide free transportation to students and civil officials.

“Very soon the state government will provide buses for free transportation for civil servants and students,” Goje said.